Longtime British TV Actor Richard Briers Dies at 79

[JamesG]

Longtime British TV Actor Richard Briers Dies at 79
Feb 18, 2013
by Kate Stanhope


British actor Richard Briers, who enjoyed a prolific TV career in his home country, died Sunday, BBC News reports. He was 79.

Briers' agent told the BBC that he died "peacefully" at his home in London. He had been battling a serious lung condition for several years. In interviews, Briers blamed years of smoking for his emphysema.



A London native, Briers' first claim to fame was playing George Starling in the TV series "Marriage Lines", which ran from 1961 to 1966. However, it was his turn as Tom in the 1975 BBC sitcom "The Good Life", about a draughtsman who decides on his 40th birthday to quit his job and try his hand at self-sufficiency, that made him a household name.

The show's final episode was performed in front of the Queen.



He enjoyed several leading TV roles during the 1980s and 1990s, including "Ever Decreasing Circles", "If You See God, Tell Him", and "Down to Earth". In recent years, he had guest-starred on "Extras" and "Torchwood", and also played the servant Adam in Kenneth Branagh's 2006 adaptation of Shakespeare's As You Like It.

In 1989, Briers was named an Officer of the British Empire, and in 2003, he was named a Commander of the British Empire.



Briers is survived by his wife, Ann Davies, and their two daughters, Lucy and Katie.

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Richard-...d-1061130.aspx

[Steve_uk]

Originally Posted by JamesG

Longtime British TV Actor Richard Briers Dies at 79
Feb 18, 2013
by Kate Stanhope


British actor Richard Briers, who enjoyed a prolific TV career in his home country, died Sunday, BBC News reports. He was 79.

Briers' agent told the BBC that he died "peacefully" at his home in London. He had been battling a serious lung condition for several years. In interviews, Briers blamed years of smoking for his emphysema.



A London native, Briers' first claim to fame was playing George Starling in the TV series "Marriage Lines", which ran from 1961 to 1966. However, it was his turn as Tom in the 1975 BBC sitcom "The Good Life", about a draughtsman who decides on his 40th birthday to quit his job and try his hand at self-sufficiency, that made him a household name.

The show's final episode was performed in front of the Queen.



He enjoyed several leading TV roles during the 1980s and 1990s, including "Ever Decreasing Circles", "If You See God, Tell Him", and "Down to Earth". In recent years, he had guest-starred on "Extras" and "Torchwood", and also played the servant Adam in Kenneth Branagh's 2006 adaptation of Shakespeare's As You Like It.

In 1989, Briers was named an Officer of the British Empire, and in 2003, he was named a Commander of the British Empire.



Briers is survived by his wife, Ann Davies, and their two daughters, Lucy and Katie.

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Richard-...d-1061130.aspx

A brilliant and versatile actor equally at home playing comedy and tragedy. His own tragedy was cigarettes,a habit he took up in an era when the health risks were not fully known.

He will be best remembered among the British audience for the situation comedy The Good Life,where he received star billing,but ironically another actress Penelope Keith(whom Americans might recall in To The Manor Born)stole the show from him. The last episode saw the Good's house trashed by vandals,and was not the show witnessed by the Queen,as erroneously stated by a number of journalists in the obituaries I have read thus far.

[Hebburn]

I had no idea who the man was until the local PBS affiliate started running The Good Life/Good Neighbors, just a few weeks ago, where upon I took an immediate liking to him. He will surely be missed by those who new of him, but will live on through his works, as he will acquire new fans, as he has locally, who will now be watching shows, just because his name is on the billing. that they might not have, otherwise.

[Marvo301]

I loved his work on The Good Life! Not only was he very funny but he had great chemistry with the rest of the cast and alowed them to shine!! Richard Briers