Home of the Daily and Sunday Express. Richard Beckinsale Death: In the loving memory of Richard Beckinsale, we are saddened to inform you that Richard Beckinsale, a beloved and loyal friend, has passed away. Judith Margaret Loe. Beckinsale holds the distinction of having starred in three different sitcoms, each of which won the BAFTA for Best Situation Comedy, in three successive years: Porridge in 1977, Rising Damp in 1978, and Going Straight in 1979. Richard Arthur Beckinsale (6 July 1947 - 19 March 1979) was an English actor, who played Lennie Godber in the BBC sitcom Porridge (along with its sequel series Going Straight ) and Alan Moore in the British ITV sitcom Rising Damp . As Richard Beckinsale had died the year before, Christopher Strauli was cast as a new character, art student John. Your email address will not be published. His performance was met with applause and Richard gained further confidence. At the time of his death he survived by his large extended friends and family. That night he went to a party for The Two Ronnies then returned to his house in Sunningdale, Berks. [16] Barker had suggested actor Paul Henry for the role of Godber, owing to Henrys being from Birmingham (as Godber was meant to be), but director Sydney Lotterby chose Beckinsale instead. "[53] A memorial plaque was later placed in the church in Beckinsale's honour. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. He hadn't done much but he was so loved that there was a universal sort of grief that went on. A post-mortem examination revealed that his recent health problems were the results of coronary artery disease. He met his second wife, the actress Judy Loe, while working in rep at Crewe. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. March 19, 1979Richard Beckinsale / Date of death. Beckinsale expressed relief at landing the role, owing to his concern about being typecast as Geoffrey from The Lovers. The actress shared a snap of her hand holding open a curtain, and the "e" ink proudly placed on her wrist. Personal Life. It looks back at one of the biggest stars of that decade through the eyes of family, friends and colleagues. The day before he died, Beckinsale and five-year-old daughter Kate went to see Judy, in hospital after an operation. As per our current Database, Richard Beckinsale died on 19 March 1979(1979-03-19) (aged 31) Sunningdale, Berkshire, England. The Multi-Sculpt has six different edges that help you lift, contour and reduce facial tension . In the year 2000, a documentary was made on Richard Beckinsale titled The Unforgettable Richard Beckinsale. Birth place. He would have been proud his two daughters Samantha and Kate, have both gone on to become highly successful actors. He used to play a lot of charity soccer, but the terrible thing is that he was a family man. He then was seen in Rising Damp in the early 70s, a sitcom which would change his life and career. [21] Because of a scheduling conflict with the musical I Love My Wife, in which he was starring, Beckinsale was unable to appear in the fourth series of Rising Damp. Richard Beckinsale was born on July 6, 1947 and died on March 19, 1979. By 18 March, 1979, Beckinsale was suffering from pain in his chest and arms, but decided against seeking further help. Richard Beckinsale Bio Details. You can unsubscribe at any time. It is the story of a man destined for greatness, but ultimately cut down in his prime. In Rising Damp he had to wear a long haired wig as his hair had been kept short due to him having just finished filming Porridge. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. He acted in Mike Stott's play, "Funny Peculiar, at London's Garrick Theatre with Julie Walters and Pete Postlethwaite. ", In the 2006 film Venus, during a scene inside the actors' church, St Paul's, Peter O'Toole's character, an aging actor, points out Beckinsale's plaque, as an example of an actor who died in his prime. It was considered as the best English sitcom of its time and along with that, he was also starring in another sitcom Porridge, a comedy series where he was playing a prisoner. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Thank you so much to everyone who has been kind. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. He subsequently starred alongside Barker in Going Straight (1978), a spin-off of Porridge in which the two criminal characters are seen on the outside rebuilding their lives. He spent a year working in numerous jobs, including spells as an upholsterer's apprentice, a pipe inspector, and an assistant in a grocery business. Having said that, comedy is my number-one favorite thing. A post-mortem revealed a congenital defect. Richard Beckinsale would have been 31 years old at the time of death or 68 years old today. There are no words for it, apart from love - to give people love, to teach people love. Post mortems showed that he had a terminal heart condition. Died. Is there a documentary about Richard Beckinsale? 19 March 1979 One scene showed Beckinsale questioning a character in the film with a tough stance, and looking quite different than his usual appearance with much shorter cropped hair. Beckinsale worked on the BBC sitcom Bloomers, five episodes of which were filmed prior to Christmas 1978. Richard Beckinsale net worth at the time of death How much was Richard Beckinsale worth at the time of death? But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. As filming on the show progressed, Beckinsale appeared increasingly tired, and "greyer and greyer", according to co-star David Swift, and towards the end of filming he was complaining of pains in his arms. Porridge and Rising Damp actor Richard Beckinsale died of a heart attack in 1979 at the age of 31, when Kate was just five. Margaret Bradley . He never managed to do so. I think it is probably the main Gender. The poem, which touches upon the sadness. Read more: Kate Beckinsale receives 'unsettling' gift of pet rabbit left . The pair had some memorable exchanges. [4]:114-118 He was a fan of Manchester United football team. [52] On 19 April 1979, one month after his death, more than 300 people attended a memorial service at the actors' church St Paul's in Covent Garden. He died of a heart attack in the middle of the night. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Forty years ago today, rising comedy star Richard Beckinsale, a favourite in the hugely popular sitcoms Rising Damp and Porridge, died in his sleep aged just 31, leaving behind a devastated wife and two bewildered young daughters. Richard was one of the stars of sitcoms Porridge and Rising Damp, and worked alongside Ronnie Barker and Frances de la Tour. "[20]:910 Beckinsale had previously worked with Leonard Rossiter in the 1974 Johnny Speight drama If There Weren't Any Blacks You'd Have To Invent Them. La Frenais stated: "I was always amazed by Richard's talent. Did Kate Beckinsale go to Oxford? Throughout his TV series run, Beckinsale also did a 19-month run in the West End play Funny Peculiar, for which he was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for "Actor of the Year in a New Play" and "Comedy Performance of the Year. Richard married Margaret Bradley at a very early age of 18, and the couple gave birth to a daughter named Samantha, who later became an actress. More info. Cloudflare Ray ID: 78b76338ae7b7267 Performance & security by Cloudflare. A presentation of a bouquet of flowers is a special way of showing youre thinking of them and their loss, as the bright colours reflect the personality of the passed loved one. He was a very honest boy and he had that same quality in his acting."[50]. Switch to the dark mode that's kinder on your eyes at night time. [43] On Sunday 18 March, he worked on Bloomers and gave Anna Calder-Marshall a lift home afterwards. Plans had been drawn up to make a film version of Rising Damp and ultimately the film was made in 1980. [45] According to David Jason, who was at the party, Beckinsale left the party at around 11:30, in order to attend another friend's party. He went to bed, and was found dead the next morning. Cause of death Details of the circumstance surrounding our beloved, Richard Beckinsalesdeath is not public yet, we will share more as we learn. Born In: Carlton, Nottinghamshire, England, Spouse/Ex-: Judy Loe (19771979), Margaret Bradley (19651971), children: Kate Beckinsale, Samantha Beckinsale, place of death: Sunningdale, Berkshire, England, See the events in life of Richard Beckinsale in Chronological Order, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cQH4tn0k3E. 40 years is a lot of missing. [5][4]:26-29, At 16, Beckinsale enrolled at Nottingham College, Clarendon, taking the drama teacher's training programme and spent the next two years there, until he was old enough to apply to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. What are some examples of how providers can receive incentives? Died. [4]:81 They finally married in 1977, prior to Kate starting nursery school. The premise was having a mismatched couple, with a romantic girl paired with a sex-obsessed boyfriend. "He bumped into everything, knocked into the props.We didn't really know whether it was acting genius, or whether it was that he was so short-sighted.". Afterwards, he returned to his house in Sunningdale, Berkshire. Lots of love xx march19." Kate wrote next to the photos: "40 years is a lot of missing. Actor. At the time of his death, Beckinsale had almost completed the BBC sitcom Bloomers. Richard Beckinsale/Daughters He was father of Kate and Samantha Beckinsale, who became big actors later. 'Going straight' was a spinoff of one of the most successful sitcoms of all times titled 'Porridge', in which Richard happened to have the lead role. At some point that day, he called his older daughter Samantha, and made plans to spend some time with her the following weekend. Kate's actor father Richard Beckinsale died when she was five, and she attributes her early smoking addiction to the trauma. "But you're a member of the permissive society, you're supposed to know where the erogenous regions are!" Ronnie Barker and Fulton MacKay of Porridge, Leonard Rossiter and Don Warrington of Rising Damp, and Paula Wilcox of The Lovers all gave tributes during the show.[28]. He had died during the night due to a heart attack. At the start of 1979 the world looked to be at Beckinsale's feet. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. He died in the middle of making the film Bloomers. The subsequent post mortem report suggested that he had congenital heart failure and he could have been cured if the diagnosis had been done with extreme precaution and attention to detail. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Kate Beckinsale opened up about her late father, Richard, in a new interview, Critics' Choice Awards: Bella Thorne goes KNICKERLESS in sheer gown, Kate Beckinsale dazzles in sheer gown that flaunts MAJOR cleavage, Kate's father Richard, of Porridge fame, died when she was five-years-old, Kate opened up for the latest issue of ES Magazine, The Queen star Michael Sheen vows to give up acting to fight populism, Day and Night: Michael Sheen debunks reports he is quitting Hollywood, Katie Hopkins SLAMS Michael Sheen after he 'swaps acting for politics'. Beckinsale was the only member of the cast not to have appeared in The Banana Box, the play on which Rising Damp was based. Writer Eric Chappell stated: "Although not the oldest, he was the most experienced sitcom actor of the quartet, having already appeared in The Lovers and Porridge. The post-mortem examination revealed that he had coronary artery disease, which caused the heart attack. There was a memorial segment for Beckinsale during the series in which his daughters, Samantha and Kate took part. [46] Jo Apted, wife of The Lovers director Michael Apted, stated that Beckinsale attended a party at her house on Saturday night and felt unwell the next day. You'll be out of work more than in and you must have a second string to your bow, even if it's hairdressing or something like that.". On 19th March 1979, Richard finally succumbed to a massive heart attack, causing his sad untimely demise. In 2000, a documentary was broadcast on ITV to mark 21 years since Richard's death, called The Unforgettable Richard Beckinsale. [43][44] He spent January and February working on the Porridge film and then prepared to start work on the film Bloody Kids in March. This role marked a change in direction for Beckinsale, playing a hard-nosed detective character in contrast to the naive characters he had played before. The actor died in his sleep from a heart attack aged just 31, and left behind Kate, her older sister Samantha, and wife Judy Loe. "I was at school with Roy Kinnears daughter when that happened [Roy's death] and I was dispatched to say, 'Er, well, I survived'. Biography - A Short Wiki English actor best known for his role as Lennie Godber in the BBC television series, Porridge. I'm convinced he would have become an international actor." "[4]:126, "Venus if you will, send a girl for me to thrill", "Book review: The Richard Beckinsale Story", "Kate Beckinsale unveils plaque for father Richard", "Hollywood star Kate Beckinsale thanks Beeston for new mural of her dad calling it 'unbelievably wonderful', https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Richard_Beckinsale&oldid=1131052611, Episode: "Tales of Piccadilly: A Room Full of Holes", Episode: "The Mysterious Death on the Underground Railway", This page was last edited on 2 January 2023, at 09:08. Richard Beckinsale always brought light to every room entered. However, 1977 brought bad news for Richard as both of his most successful shows Porridge and Rising Damp saw him quitting. Richard Beckinsale Death: In the loving memory of Richard Beckinsale, we are saddened to inform you that Richard Beckinsale, a beloved and loyal friend, has passed away. [1] Beckinsale stated in 1977 that he may have been a distant relative of the actor Charles Laughton. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. [9][10][4]:55-63 Following his stint in 1969 playing Hamlet, Beckinsale took a brief hiatus from acting and worked at a bottle factory, before returning to acting soon after. In 1977, he starred in a radio comedy series called Albert and Me with Pat Coombs and John Comer. Richard Beckinsale was born on July 6, 1947 in Carlton, Nottingham, England as Richard Arthur Beckinsale. Kate Beckinsale posted a sweet tribute to her late dad on the 40th anniversary of his death. His first notable role was that of Dopey the Dwarf in a school play adaptation of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs". His doctor found nothing wrong save an over-active stomach lining and a slightly high cholesterol level. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. He was only 31 at the time of his death.Beckinsale was cremated in Bracknell, Berkshire, and his remains were taken to Mortlake Crematorium. The film features all the close friends and family members of Richard talking about his life and journey. A memorial service was held for him at St. Paul's Church, Covent Garden on 19th April 1979. [35][4]:31-33 He also enjoyed playing football and often played in charity matches with the Entertainers XI team. Did Richard Beckinsale wear a wig in Rising Damp? Net Worth. Before Porridge, Richard Beckinsale had starred in a highly successful sitcom over on the ITV network called "The Lovers". Start a FameChain Add to my FameChain. The 45-year-old was just five when her dad passed away, and posted a collection of childhood photos to her Instagram page on the sad day. Richard grew up in a fairly small house with a sister Judy and was keen on acting since his early days. [7], After graduating in 1968,[8] he moved to Crewe to begin in repertory theatre. N'T done much but he was a fan of Manchester United football team greatness, but decided against further. Eyes of family, friends and family members of Richard talking about his and... Wife, the actress Judy Loe, while working in rep at Crewe Loe... Loe, while working in rep at Crewe house in Sunningdale, Berkshire his concern about being typecast as from! With Pat how did richard beckinsale die and John Comer home afterwards shows Porridge and Rising Damp in the BBC sitcom.. 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