Brian Murphy (actor)

Last updated

Brian Murphy
Born
Brian Trevor John Murphy

(1932-09-25) 25 September 1932 (age 92)
Ventnor, Isle of Wight, England
OccupationActor
Years active1960–present
Known for
Spouses
  • Carol Gibson
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1957,divorced)​
    [ citation needed ]
  • ​
    (m. 1995)​
    [ citation needed ]
Children2

Brian Trevor John Murphy (born 25 September 1932) is an English actor and comedian. He is best known as the henpecked husband George Roper in the popular sitcom Man About the House [1] and its spin-off series George and Mildred . He also played Alvin Smedley in Last of the Summer Wine . [2] Other notable roles include Stan the shopkeeper in the 1990s children's series Wizadora , and Maurice in the comedy drama series The Booze Cruise .

Contents

Biography

Early life

Murphy was born on 25 September 1932 in Ventnor, Isle of Wight. [3] He was the son of grocer's assistant Gerald Murphy and his wife Mabel, both of whom later became restaurateurs. [4] His two brothers Ken and Eric died during active service in the Second World War.[ citation needed ] He was called up to do his national service at RAF Northwood, where he met future The Good Life actor Richard Briers. Upon leaving the RAF the two aspiring actors both performed in productions by the Dramatic Society at the Borough Polytechnic Institute (now London South Bank University).

Early career

Murphy was a member of the Theatre Workshop (alongside future TV co-star Yootha Joyce), and a jobbing actor in the 1960s and early 1970s, combining his theatre work with guest appearances in television shows such as The Avengers , Z-Cars , Callan and Dixon of Dock Green , before being cast in the role which would make him a household name.

Man About the House and George and Mildred

Murphy first came to prominence in the ITV television sitcom Man About the House , playing George Roper, whose wife, Mildred, played by Yootha Joyce, was a domineering social climber – a sharp contrast to the character of George, a lazy landlord whose desire was for an easy and quiet life. The pairing was an instant hit. [2] A contributing factor to the actors' immediate chemistry was that they had been friends for many years. Aside from their Theatre Workshop years, Murphy also featured opposite Joyce in Sparrows Can't Sing (1963).

When Man About The House ended in 1976, a spin-off was created for Murphy and Joyce, titled George and Mildred . This ran for five series until 1979. In 1978 he released the single "Jogging" (b/w "The Great Gnome Robbery"), recorded in the persona of George, on the Pye label. Murphy later said, "Out of the blue I was requested to record "Jogging" in the manner of George, and naturally could not refuse. I had been told I had an excellent singing voice and in fact did some training, but sadly I lacked confidence and missed opportunities – one of my biggest regrets." [5] Murphy reprised his role in feature films of both sitcoms. Joyce died in 1980, and the planned final series of George and Mildred was cancelled.

After George and Mildred

In 1981, another television sitcom was created specifically for Murphy with him in the title role in The Incredible Mr. Tanner (the series would feature regular Man About The House and George and Mildred co-star Roy Kinnear), but the show failed to gain popularity. He moved to the BBC in 1982 for the driving school TV sitcom L for Lester , but this was also a ratings failure and was cancelled after just six episodes.

Murphy was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1998. [4]

Last of the Summer Wine and others

He continued to appear regularly on television, most notably as "Alvin Smedley" in Last of the Summer Wine from 2003 to 2010, which was promoted by a cast return to the Rose Theatre site, and also with roles in On Your Way, Riley (1985) as Arthur Lucan, [6] Lame Ducks (as a private investigator); The Bill (as a drunken tramp dressed as an elf at Christmas); comedy series Pond Life , an animation series, as Len Pond, the father of protagonist Dolly Pond (Sarah Ann Kennedy), One Foot in the Grave starring Richard Wilson (playing a character called Mr Foskett); [7] Brookside ; and as a shopkeeper called Stan in the pre-school children's TV series Wizadora .

In 2010 he appeared in an episode of Hustle called "The Thieving Mistake". He has more recently made appearances in comedy shows The Catherine Tate Show , This is Jinsy and Benidorm . Murphy can also be seen in all three episodes of the ITV comedy The Booze Cruise , playing Maurice. He also appeared as Frank Dobson in The Cafe from 2011 and 2013, and also in the Channel 4 comedy Man Down as music teacher Frank Field-Williams in the 2013 Christmas special.

In 2023, Murphy wrote the introduction to the autobiography of his Oh, What a Lovely War! co-star Larry Dann. [8]

Personal life

Murphy is married to Hi-de-Hi! actress Linda Regan. [9] Regan is his second wife and the couple married in 1995; they live in Kent. Murphy has two adult children, Trevor and Kevin, from his previous marriage to Carol Gibson.[ citation needed ]

His grandson is the playwright Martin Murphy, whose play Manor was performed at the Tristan Bates Theatre in Covent Garden in 2010. [10]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1963 Sparrows Can't Sing Jack
1964Love and Maud CarverGuardsman
1965 San Ferry Ann British Tourist at Garage
1969 The Activist Member of Steering Committee
1971 The Devils Adam
1971 The Boy Friend Peter
1972 The Ragman's Daughter Tony's Father
1974 Man About the House George Roper
1976 I'm Not Feeling Myself Tonight Caretaker
1979 The Plank Truck Driver
1980 George and Mildred George Roper
1981Black JackArchibald
1982 It's Your Move Chauffeur
1997Day Release
2000The Mumbo JumboMr. Tipple
2003 The Booze Cruise Maurice Stringer
2005Room 36George Roberts
2005 The Booze Cruise II: The Treasure Hunt Maurice Stringer
2006 The Booze Cruise III: The Scattering Maurice Stringer
2011 Grave Tales Arthur
2011The EstateGeoff
2012Blitz and BananasClarence Spratt
2012 Run For Your Wife Allotment ManCameo

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1960Probation OfficerMax FletcherEpisode: "#2.1"
1961 The Avengers HaslamEpisode: "The Springers"
1961 The Interrogator Corporal DoggartTV film
1962 Z Cars Wallace Brackett2 episodes
1963ITV Television PlayhouseMan with AlsatianEpisode: "The Wedding Dress"
1963 The Plane Makers SorboEpisode: "Costigan's Rocket"
1964SixMr. GowingEpisode: "The Diary of a Nobody: The Domestic Jottings of a City Clerk"
1965 Not So Much a Programme, More a Way of Life Various24 episodes
1965A World of ComedyMotorist2 episodes
1965BlackmailTalbutEpisode: "Cobb"
1966 Hope and Keen Episode: "S.S. Bounty"
1966 Drama 61-67 NickEpisode: "Drama '66: A Hero of Modern Industry"
1966BlackmailFletcherEpisode: "Vacant Possession"
1967The White RabbitPerkinsEpisode: "The Beginning"
1967Baker's Half-DozenVarious5 episodes
1968 Love Story Party guestEpisode: "S for Sugar, A for Apple, M for Missing"
1968ResurrectionKriltsov2 episodes
1969 Sez Les Various12 episodes
1970 The Misfit The drunkEpisode: "On Protest"
1970 ITV Playhouse DriverEpisode: "A Sound from the Sea"
1972 The Moonstone Septimus Luker3 episodes
1972 Callan ReevesEpisode: "None of Your Business"
1972 Alcock and Gander PlutheroEpisode: "Soho Is Too Small"
1972 Dixon of Dock Green Percy SinclairEpisode: "Ada"
1973 The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club DetectiveEpisode: "Mr. Oliver"
1973–1976 Man About the House George Roper All 39 episodes
1974South RidingMr HubbardEpisode: "In Sickness and in Health"
1976–1979 George and Mildred George RoperAll 38 episodes
1981 The Incredible Mr Tanner Ernest TannerAll 6 episodes
1981Theatre BoxHubert DibbleEpisode: "Reasons to Be Cheerful"
1982 L for Lester Lester SmallAll 6 episodes
1984–1985 Lame Ducks Ansell11 episodes
1985 On Your Way Riley Arthur Lucan / Old Mother RileyTV film
1986Reasons to Be CheerfulKingEpisode: "Charlie Chuckles"
1986Cinderella: The Shoe Must Go OnAmnesiaTV film
1987 All in Good Faith Greg SproatEpisode: "The Patience of Job"
1992 Boon BusterEpisode: "Shot in the Dark"
1993–1997 Wizadora StanRecurring series 1-4, Main series 5-7
1994 One Foot in the Grave Mr. FoskettEpisode: "The Man Who Blew Away"
1995 Brookside George Manners5 episodes
1995 Next of Kin SalesmanEpisode: "Expansion"
1995Paul Merton's Life of ComedyGrandad's friend2 episodes
1996 Delta Wave Mr. SeffelEpisode: "Dodgy Jammers: Part 2"
1996 Mike and Angelo Mervyn K. MertzEpisode: "An Actor's Life for Me"
1996–2000 Pond Life Len Pond11 episodes
1997 The Famous Five Mr. WoohEpisode: "Five Are Together Again"
1997Western Lights: Laugh Until You DieRicky ChappleTV film
1997 Paul Merton in Galton and Simpson's... FatherEpisode: "Visiting Day"
1997 Paul Merton in Galton and Simpson's... Uncle ArthurEpisode: "Being of Sound Mind"
1998 Jonathan Creek Ken SpeedEpisode: "Mother Redcap"
1999 Mrs Merton and Malcolm Mr CapstickAll 6 episodes
1999 Hilltop Hospital Dr. AtticusVoice; Episode: "Gracey Greyshell's Last Day"
1999 Casualty Walter BurnleyEpisode: "To Have and to Hold"
1999 The Bill Danny the ElfEpisode: "When the Snow Lay Round About"
2000 Sunburn Sid DawsonEpisode: #2.2
2001 Comedy Lab Voice; Episode: "Knife & Wife"
2003–2010 Last of the Summer Wine Alvin Smedley73 episodes
2004 Monkey Trousers VariousTV film
2005–2006 The Catherine Tate Show Neville5 episodes
2010 The Slammer AlanEpisode: #1.12
2010 Hustle LarryEpisode: "The Thieving Mistake"
2010 Paul O'Grady Live AlvinEpisode: #1.6
2010 Benidorm Clive MitchellEpisode: "Christmas Special"
2011 White Van Man AlbertEpisode: "Beginnings and Ends"
2011 This is Jinsy Melty HarrisEpisode: "Kelpman"
2011–2013 The Cafe Jack Dobson9 episodes
2013 Plebs VictorEpisode: "Bananae"
2013 Man Down Mr Frank Field-WilliamsEpisode: "Christmas Special"
2014It's an Unknown WorldGeorge TimemileUnknown episodes
2014 Holby City Charlie EvansEpisode: "The Art of Losing"
2016 Casualty Frank HainesEpisode: "Hopelessly Addicted"
2018ClaudeMr. LovelybunsVoice; Episode: "Gone Sock"
2019 Holby City Buster KitchenerEpisode: "The Wrong Horse"
2020–2021Mighty 6Old Man L.Voice; 2 episodes
202230 Years Of Laughs: Last Of The Summer WineHimself ; 1 episode

Theatre and radio

From October 1987 to July 1991, Murphy played Ernest Bond in BBC Radio 4's drama series Citizens .

Murphy also played Robert Collins in an episode of the audio series of Doctor Who by Big Finish Productions in an episode entitled "The Home Guard" in November 2019. Brian returned to radio/podcast alongside his wife Linda Regan playing the role of the Mayor of Barmy Dale, Lord Palmer. Barmy Dale encompassed some of the great British Sitcom actors including Jeffrey Holland, Judy Buxton, Mike Fenton Stevens and Karl Howman.

Related Research Articles

A British sitcom or a Britcom is a situational comedy programme produced for British television.

<i>Man About the House</i> British TV sitcom (1973–1976)

Man About the House is a British sitcom created by Brian Cooke and Johnnie Mortimer. It starred Richard O'Sullivan, Paula Wilcox, Sally Thomsett, Yootha Joyce and Brian Murphy. Six series were broadcast on ITV from 15 August 1973 to 7 April 1976. The series was considered daring at the time because it featured a man sharing a London flat with two single women. The show was made by Thames Television and recorded at its Teddington Studios in Greater London. It is regularly repeated on ITV3.

<i>George and Mildred</i> British TV sitcom (1976–1979)

George and Mildred is a British sitcom produced by Thames Television and first aired between 1976 and 1979. It is a spin-off from Man About the House, and starred Brian Murphy and Yootha Joyce as constantly-sparring married couple George and Mildred Roper. The premise of the series had George and Mildred leaving their flat as depicted in Man About the House and moving to a modern, upmarket housing estate in Hampton Wick. Their arrival horrifies their snobbish neighbour Jeffrey Fourmile, a middle-class estate agent who fears the Ropers' presence will devalue his home.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yootha Joyce</span> English actress (1927–1980)

Yootha Joyce Needham, known as Yootha Joyce, was an English actress best known for playing Mildred Roper opposite Brian Murphy in the sitcom Man About the House (1973–1976) and its spin-off George and Mildred (1976–1979).

<i>Threes a Crowd</i> Television series

Three's a Crowd is an American sitcom television series produced as a spin-off and continuation of Three's Company that aired on ABC from September 25, 1984, until April 9, 1985, with reruns airing until September 10, 1985. It is loosely based on the British sitcom Robin's Nest, which was itself a spin-off of Man About the House, on which Three's Company was based.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard O'Sullivan</span> English actor (born 1944)

Richard O'Sullivan is an English comedy actor. He is known for his role as Robin Tripp in the TV sitcoms Man About the House (1973–1976) and Robin's Nest (1977–1981) and as the title character in the period adventure series Dick Turpin (1979–1982). He also starred in Doctor at Large (1971), Doctor in Charge (1972–1973), Alcock and Gander (1972), Me and My Girl (1984–1988) and Trouble In Mind (1991).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Milo O'Shea</span> Irish-American actor (1926–2013)

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arthur Lucan</span> English actor (1885–1954)

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Mildred Dorothy Roper is a fictional character from the Thames Television sitcoms Man About the House and George and Mildred. She was portrayed by Yootha Joyce.

<i>George and Mildred</i> (film) 1980 British comedy film by Peter Frazer Jones

George and Mildred is a 1980 British comedy film directed by Peter Frazer Jones. It was an adaptation of the television series George and Mildred, with Yootha Joyce and Brian Murphy reprising their roles as the two title characters. It was written by Dick Sharples.

Linda Regan, born Linda Mary Drinkwater, is a British actress and author, who has appeared on television, film, radio and on stage. She is best known for her role as Yellowcoat April in the British holiday camp sitcom Hi-de-Hi!.

<i>Man About the House</i> (film) 1974 British comedy film by John Robins

Man About the House is a 1974 British comedy film directed by John Robins and starring Richard O'Sullivan, Paula Wilcox, Sally Thomsett,Yootha Joyce and Brian Murphy. It was written by Johnnie Mortimer and Brian Cooke based on the TV sitcom of the same name (1973–1976), starring the same main cast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicholas Bond-Owen</span> British actor

Nicholas Bond-Owen is a child actor of the 1970s and 1980s best known for playing Tristram Fourmile in all five series of the popular comedy George and Mildred and in the film of the same name.

L for Lester is a BBC sitcom first broadcast in 1982, starring Brian Murphy. The programme followed the misfortunes of a small town driving instructor. It was intended as a new vehicle for Murphy after his previous hit show - George and Mildred - was retired following the sudden death of Yootha Joyce in 1980.

References

  1. ↑ "Brian Murphy as George Roper in Man about the house". Grimsby Evening Telegraph. 13 September 1976. p. 7. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  2. 1 2 Lawson, Mark (15 August 2023). "'Naughty rather than dirty': 50 years of Man About the House, the sitcom that introduced sex to British TV". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  3. ↑ "Brian Murphy". bfi.org.uk. Archived from the original on 14 November 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Brian Murphy – This Is Your Life. 5 January 1998". YouTube .
  5. ↑ "Brian Murphy interview". British Comedy Guide . 6 September 2021.
  6. ↑ "On Your Way Riley". 2 January 1985. Retrieved 22 December 2016– via IMDb.
  7. ↑ 'Mr Foskett' Archived 16 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 24 September 2007
  8. ↑ "Larry Dann – Oh, What A Lovely Memoir". Devonfire. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  9. ↑ 'Allo 'Allo star dies BBC News. 4 August 2002. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  10. ↑ "Tristan Bates Theatre". tristanbatestheatre.co.uk. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
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