Brian Murphy

One of Britain's most prolific character actors who starred in three of the country’s best loved sitcoms remembered by Laurence Marcus

Brian Murphy, a beloved figure in British television, brought joy and laughter to countless viewers through his memorable roles in classic sitcoms. Best known for his portrayal of George Roper in two hugely successful sitcoms, Murphy's comedic timing and endearing performances made him a household name.

George Roper, along with his wife Mildred, so wonderfully played by Yootha Joyce, was the landlord to a number of tenants in the sitcom Man About the House. George was petty minded, middle-aged and unemployed and would not tolerate any 'funny goings-on' under his roof (not even between his own wife and himself). The relationship between George and Mildred became one of the highlights of the series due to the wonderful chemistry between the two actors and spawned a well-deserved and hugely successful George and Mildred spin-off series.

The show was successful enough to generate an end-of-the-pier show in Bournemouth in 1977 and a feature film, of questionable quality, was made in 1980. A sixth series was planned to go into production later that year but on 24 August, star Yootha Joyce died suddenly at the age of 53.

Brian Trevor John Murphy was born in Ventnor, on the Isle of Wight, in Hampshire on 25 September 1932. He was the second son of grocer's assistant Gerald Murphy and his wife Mabel. Inspired by Laurel and Hardy and Will Hay, Brian had aspirations of being an actor from an early age and became even more determined for this career path when he met the future Good Life actor Richard Briers whilst both men were doing their National Service at RAF Norwood.

Towards the end of the 1950s, Murphy joined Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop in Stratford, East London, where he first met Yootha Joyce. Littlewood was a hugely influential director who cultivated the talents of actors such as Barbara Windsor, Harry H. Corbett, James Booth, George Sewell, Stephen Lewis, John Junkin and Roy Kinnear. In 1960, Murphy made his television debut in the ITV series Probation Officer which would lead to roles in The Avengers (1961), Z Cars (1962) and The Plane Makers (1963). He made his big screen debut in 1963 in the movie version of a play written by Stephen Lewis and Joan Littlewood and which Murphy had performed at Stratford; Sparrows Can't Sing. In September of that year, he headed off to Broadway with the rest of the cast to perform the play until January 1965.

On his return from America, Murphy joined David Frost, Roy Hudd, Eleanor Bronn, John Bird and Willy Rushton in the satirical show Not So Much a Programme, More a Way of Life, which was a successor to That Was the Week That Was and for the rest of the decade he performed on stage and made various television appearances in comedy's such as Baker's Half Dozen (a starring vehicle for Joe Baker), Sez Lez (with Les Dawson) and dramas such as Callan, Dixon of Dock Green and South Riding.

Man About the House, which would establish Murphy as a household name and win him a legion of fans began in 1973 and when it ended in 1976 it led immediately to its spin-off George and Mildred which ran for five series. In 1981, ITV created a sitcom specifically for Murphy, but The Incredible Mr. Tanner and his next show, L for Lester, made by the BBC, both failed to make an impact. Lame Ducks, produced between 1984 and 1985 was a little more successful but it wasn't until his role as Alvin Smedley in Last of the Summer Wine that Murphy would enjoy success and a long run once more, appearing in over 70 episodes.  

Murphy was married to Hi-de-Hi! actress Linda Regan, his second wife who he married in 1995. Murphy had two adult children, Trevor and Kevin, from his previous marriage.

Murphy passed away on 2 February 2025, aged 92 years. In a short but very sweet message, Linda Regan Tweeted: 'My love for you will never die. RIP sweetheart.'

Brian Murphy's legacy is one of laughter, warmth, and unforgettable performances. He left behind a rich body of work that continues to entertain and will be enjoyed for many years to come.