Actor John Inman dies aged 71
8th March 2007
John Inman, star of TV sitcom Are You Being Served?, died in hospital early this morning, his manager said today.
The actor, 71, died in St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, west London, at 4am after being ill for some time, Phil Dale said.
The actor suffered from hepatitis A and had been taken into hospital for tests after problems with his liver.
John Inman, who died after a long illness, was described as 'one of the best and finest pantomime dames working to capacity audiences throughout Britain'
Mr Dale said: "John, through his character Mr Humphries of Are You Being Served? was known and loved throughout the world.
"He was one of the best and finest pantomime dames working to capacity audiences throughout Britain.
"John was known for his comedy plays and farces which were enjoyed from London's West End throughout the country and as far as Australia, Canada and the USA."
Inman's long-term partner, Ron Lynch, is said to be "devastated" at his death.
As Wanda the cook in the Dick Whittington pantomime at Richmond Theatre
It was revealed Inman had hepatitis A after it forced him to cancel the opening of a pantomime in London on December 9, 2004.
Hepatitis A is an inflammation of the liver caused through eating contaminated food, which the star believed was how he came to have the virus.
It was initially hoped he would be able to return to the pantomime, in which he was due to play Wanda the Cook in Dick Whittington, before Christmas 2004, but he never worked again.
The virus is highly infectious and symptoms include fever, loss of energy and jaundice.
There is no treatment except bed rest and the debilitating symptoms can often take several months to clear, but it is deemed less serious than the hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses.
Mr Dale said at the time that it was "not a serious illness" and that Inman was expected to be "fine".
The television actor's health problems in 2004 were the second scare in three years, after he spent three days in intensive care in 2001.
Then 65, he was admitted with breathing difficulties to St Mary's, the same hospital where he was later to die.
After three days in intensive care, he was given the all-clear and moved to a general ward.
Inman played camp salesman Mr Humphries in the comedy series Are You Being Served? for a decade from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s.
He starred alongside Wendy Richard, who went on to play Pauline Fowler in EastEnders, as well as Molly Sugden, Frank Thornton and Trevor Bannister.
The actor had been with Mr Lynch for 35 years. The couple "married" in a civil partnership ceremony at London's Westminster Register office on Christmas Eve in 2005.
Are You Being Served? ran on the BBC from 1972 to 1985 and depicted the antics of the staff of Grace Brothers, an old-fashioned department store.
Inman's character, Mr Humphries, the senior sales assistant in the menswear department, was known for his catchphrase "I'm free" and for his overt campness.
The actor's portrayal of the pouting character brought him praise and in 1976 he was voted Funniest Man On Television by TV Times readers and declared BBC TV's Personality Of The Year.
But he was also attacked by gay groups offended by his stereotypical portrayal of a theatrical homosexual, although he argued that his sexual orientation was never stated.
dailymail.co.uk
8th March 2007
John Inman, star of TV sitcom Are You Being Served?, died in hospital early this morning, his manager said today.
The actor, 71, died in St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, west London, at 4am after being ill for some time, Phil Dale said.
The actor suffered from hepatitis A and had been taken into hospital for tests after problems with his liver.
John Inman, who died after a long illness, was described as 'one of the best and finest pantomime dames working to capacity audiences throughout Britain'
Mr Dale said: "John, through his character Mr Humphries of Are You Being Served? was known and loved throughout the world.
"He was one of the best and finest pantomime dames working to capacity audiences throughout Britain.
"John was known for his comedy plays and farces which were enjoyed from London's West End throughout the country and as far as Australia, Canada and the USA."
Inman's long-term partner, Ron Lynch, is said to be "devastated" at his death.
As Wanda the cook in the Dick Whittington pantomime at Richmond Theatre
It was revealed Inman had hepatitis A after it forced him to cancel the opening of a pantomime in London on December 9, 2004.
Hepatitis A is an inflammation of the liver caused through eating contaminated food, which the star believed was how he came to have the virus.
It was initially hoped he would be able to return to the pantomime, in which he was due to play Wanda the Cook in Dick Whittington, before Christmas 2004, but he never worked again.
The virus is highly infectious and symptoms include fever, loss of energy and jaundice.
There is no treatment except bed rest and the debilitating symptoms can often take several months to clear, but it is deemed less serious than the hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses.
Mr Dale said at the time that it was "not a serious illness" and that Inman was expected to be "fine".
The television actor's health problems in 2004 were the second scare in three years, after he spent three days in intensive care in 2001.
Then 65, he was admitted with breathing difficulties to St Mary's, the same hospital where he was later to die.
After three days in intensive care, he was given the all-clear and moved to a general ward.
Inman played camp salesman Mr Humphries in the comedy series Are You Being Served? for a decade from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s.
He starred alongside Wendy Richard, who went on to play Pauline Fowler in EastEnders, as well as Molly Sugden, Frank Thornton and Trevor Bannister.
The actor had been with Mr Lynch for 35 years. The couple "married" in a civil partnership ceremony at London's Westminster Register office on Christmas Eve in 2005.
Are You Being Served? ran on the BBC from 1972 to 1985 and depicted the antics of the staff of Grace Brothers, an old-fashioned department store.
Inman's character, Mr Humphries, the senior sales assistant in the menswear department, was known for his catchphrase "I'm free" and for his overt campness.
The actor's portrayal of the pouting character brought him praise and in 1976 he was voted Funniest Man On Television by TV Times readers and declared BBC TV's Personality Of The Year.
But he was also attacked by gay groups offended by his stereotypical portrayal of a theatrical homosexual, although he argued that his sexual orientation was never stated.
dailymail.co.uk
