Are You Being Served Star John Inman Dies at 71 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 03-08-2007, 05:53 AM

Camp actor John Inman, famous for the catchphrase "I'm free" from the hit 1970s series Are You Being Served? has died at the age of 71.

He died at St Mary's Hospital in west London after being ill for some time. Inman suffered from hepatitis A and had been taken into hospital for tests after problems with his liver.

His manager Phil Dale said: "He caught a cold or something which knocked him for six and he was brought back in for tests and then we lost him this morning."

Inman played Mr Humphries in the series alongside Wendy Richard who played shopgirl Miss Brahms as well as Pauline Fowler in EastEnders. Molly Sugden, Frank Thornton and Trevor Bannister also starred.

Richard wept as she spoke about Inman. She said: "John was one of the wittiest and most inventive actors I have ever worked with. He was a brilliant pantomime dame and an all-round brilliant actor."

She said she and her partner John Burns had visited Inman regularly during his illness, adding: "He had been poorly for some time."

Of their time working on Are You Being Served?, she said: "There was never any unpleasantness. We were a really good team."

And she said of Inman's sexuality: "Of course he never said he was gay, he just said he was a young man who was very good to his mother."

The actor had been with his partner Ron Lynch for 35 years. The couple "married" in a civil partnership ceremony at London's Westminster Register Office on December 23, 2005.

Mr Dale said Inman 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."

"Ron Lynch, his partner of many, many years, is absolutely devastated and, at the moment, inconsolable."

Mr Dale said he hoped Inman will be remembered as a "genuine British comedian", adding: "It's a talent for that slightly camp comedy that can't come from any other country in the world."

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 revealed that Inman had the disease after it forced him to cancel the opening of a pantomime in London on December 9, 2004. It was his second health scare in three years, after he spent three days in intensive care in 2001.

jayman75 · 03-08-2007, 01:01 PM

Very, very sad...

A great AYBS source, which includes links for obits and tributes...

The Great One · 03-08-2007, 07:01 PM

I'm just now hearing about this. Thanks for posting the information.

The Great One · 03-08-2007, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayman75

Very, very sad...

A great AYBS source, which includes links for obits and tributes...

Awesome link. Thanks!

friendsfan77 · 03-08-2007, 07:35 PM

How sad! Loved John on AYBS! RIP.

Shlomo Yehudim · 04-23-2007, 01:14 AM

I am heart broken over this!
He is the flamboyant brit that gave me the courage to be a hillarious flamboyant! I truly will miss him, and each time I turn on Are You Being Served I shall weep and say "No, I am not being served".

R.I.P Mr.Humphreys

otaku_tiger · 09-17-2007, 09:53 AM

I seriously broke down that night and cried. Dad was like " y r u crying over a guy of 70 and ur 16?" i didnt talk to him 4 the whole day lol!
sigh...im gunna miss john inman, i neva got the chance to go to one of his pantos either...

they looked awesum!john seemed like such a nice guy...its such a shame...

03-08-2007, 05:53 AM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,406	Are You Being Served Star John Inman Dies at 71 Camp actor John Inman, famous for the catchphrase "I'm free" from the hit 1970s series Are You Being Served? has died at the age of 71. He died at St Mary's Hospital in west London after being ill for some time. Inman suffered from hepatitis A and had been taken into hospital for tests after problems with his liver. His manager Phil Dale said: "He caught a cold or something which knocked him for six and he was brought back in for tests and then we lost him this morning." Inman played Mr Humphries in the series alongside Wendy Richard who played shopgirl Miss Brahms as well as Pauline Fowler in EastEnders. Molly Sugden, Frank Thornton and Trevor Bannister also starred. Richard wept as she spoke about Inman. She said: "John was one of the wittiest and most inventive actors I have ever worked with. He was a brilliant pantomime dame and an all-round brilliant actor." She said she and her partner John Burns had visited Inman regularly during his illness, adding: "He had been poorly for some time." Of their time working on Are You Being Served?, she said: "There was never any unpleasantness. We were a really good team." And she said of Inman's sexuality: "Of course he never said he was gay, he just said he was a young man who was very good to his mother." The actor had been with his partner Ron Lynch for 35 years. The couple "married" in a civil partnership ceremony at London's Westminster Register Office on December 23, 2005. Mr Dale said Inman 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." "Ron Lynch, his partner of many, many years, is absolutely devastated and, at the moment, inconsolable." Mr Dale said he hoped Inman will be remembered as a "genuine British comedian", adding: "It's a talent for that slightly camp comedy that can't come from any other country in the world." 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 revealed that Inman had the disease after it forced him to cancel the opening of a pantomime in London on December 9, 2004. It was his second health scare in three years, after he spent three days in intensive care in 2001.
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.

03-08-2007, 01:01 PM	#2
jayman75 I Love the 80s! Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 27, 2000 Location: THE GREAT UNITED STATES Posts: 3,809	Very, very sad... A great AYBS source, which includes links for obits and tributes...
	__________________ A fan of quality, classic television comedies and holiday specials... The Wonder Years,The Golden Girls,Burns and Allen, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Are You Being Served?, Family Guy, South Park, Designing Women, Dallas, The Facts of Life, Roseanne, Will and Grace, The Twilight Zone, Original Scooby-Doo, Murphy Brown, The Big Bang Theory... Talk to me about one of these shows, and I'm all yours...

03-08-2007, 07:01 PM	#3
The Great One Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 29, 2006 Posts: 6,378	I'm just now hearing about this. Thanks for posting the information.
	__________________ .

04-23-2007, 01:14 AM	#6
Shlomo Yehudim Stevie Nicks Fan Occasional Poster Join Date: Mar 25, 2007 Location: Louisiana Posts: 27	Sad sad sad I am heart broken over this! He is the flamboyant brit that gave me the courage to be a hillarious flamboyant! I truly will miss him, and each time I turn on Are You Being Served I shall weep and say "No, I am not being served". R.I.P Mr.Humphreys
	__________________ יצר סמוך תצר שלום שלום כי בך בטוה בטחו ביהוה עד-עד כי ביה יהוה צור עולמים " Thou wilt keep him (her) in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he (she) trusteth in thee. Trust in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord GOD is everlasting strength". (Isaiah 26:3-4)

03-08-2007, 07:35 PM	#5
friendsfan77 - Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 02, 2004 Location: Duluth, GA Posts: 3,165	How sad! Loved John on AYBS! RIP.

09-17-2007, 09:53 AM	#7
otaku_tiger Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 17, 2007 Posts: 6	I seriously broke down that night and cried. Dad was like " y r u crying over a guy of 70 and ur 16?" i didnt talk to him 4 the whole day lol! sigh...im gunna miss john inman, i neva got the chance to go to one of his pantos either... they looked awesum!john seemed like such a nice guy...its such a shame...