"Are You Being
Served?" Actor John Inman Dies
By REUTERS, from the
NYTimes on the Web, March 8, 2007
LONDON -- Actor John Inman,
best known for his role as camp shop assistant Mr. Humphries in the long-running
BBC comedy "Are You Being Served?" died aged 71 on Thursday.
Inman, who later became a pantomime regular, was one of the sitcom's most
memorable cast members and his catchphrase "I'm free" became part of popular
culture.
In 1976, he was voted "Funniest Man On Television" by readers of TV Times
magazine and was also named BBC TV's "Personality Of The Year."
He died at St Mary's Hospital in London after having been ill for some time, his
manager Phil Dale said in a statement.
"John, through his character Mr. Humphries of Are You Being Served? was known
and loved throughout the world," Dale said.
"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 was "devastated" at the news, the BBC said.
Actress Wendy Richard, who played Miss Brahms in "Are You Being Served?," said
she had been regularly visiting Inman who had been seriously ill with Hepatitis
A.
"You just have to regard it as being an end to his suffering," a tearful Richard
told BBC radio.
"I think John was one of the wittiest and most inventive actors I have ever
worked with. He was a brilliant, brilliant pantomime dame. He was a
very good all round actor really."
Inman's character Mr. Humphries attracted criticism at the height of the
department store-based sitcom's success from some gay rights groups who were
upset by what they saw as his portrayal of an over-the-top homosexual.
"He never ever said Mr. Humphries was gay," Richard said. "He was just a
young man who was very, very good to his mother."
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