“I would like to thank the incredible team at Brinsworth for their love, kindness and care over the last 23 years.
“They have been truly amazing and will always hold a special place in my heart.”
Royal Variety’s life president, Giles Cooper, said: “Richard O’Sullivan was a master of effortless charm and impeccable comic timing, bringing pure warmth, wit and unforgettable joy to millions of living rooms as a true giant of British television”.
“He will be sorely missed by us all at the Royal Variety Charity.”
Actor Robin Askwith, 75, declared him “the greatest actor of his generation”.
He penned on X: “Anyone who knows anything about me knows this hurts.
“He was the greatest actor of his generation, making comedy look simple and solid drama even more effortless. He was a rascal and I loved him …
“Richard O’ Sullivan. RIP. I’ll just say….sausage rolls…….! [sic]”.
Taking to Facebook, a second fan typed: “Liked Richard in every way he was funny and will be missed always. RIP [sic].”
And another Facebook user wrote: “Oh this sad! Loved watching Man About the House! [sic]”.
Born in Chiswick in May 1944, O’Sullivan returned from a family holiday in Ireland with a strong Irish accent, and he was sent to the Corona Theatre School in Hammersmith to soften it.
Aged 8, he made his first film appearance in The Yellow Balloon, which was filmed in 1952 and released the following year.
In 1953, he played the main character in thriller The Stranger’s Hand.
Twenty years later, O’Sullivan starred as trainee chef Robin Tripp in the ITV sitcom Man About the House.
The series, which ran from 1973 until 1976, was about Chrissy Plummer (Paula Wilcox) and Jo (Sally Thomsett), sharing a flat with Robin, despite their landlords George (Brian Murphy) and Mildred Roper’s (Yootha Joyce’s) disapproval.
After Man About the House ended, Richard played Robin in the spin-off sitcom, Robin’s Nest, which ran on ITV from 1977 until 1981.
His character opened a bistro, funded by his girlfriend and later wife Vicky’s (Tessa Wyatt’s), dad. James Nicholls (Tony Britton).
While playing Robin, Richard had relationships with Thomsett, now 76, and Wyatt, now 78. He had son James with the latter.
He was in a relationship with Thomsett from 1973 until 1976, and Wyatt from 1978 until 1985.
The entertainer’s other acting credits included Carry On Teacher (Robin Stevens), Cleopatra (Pharaoh Ptolemy XIII), and Sherlock Holmes – The Case of the Unlucky Gambler (Andy Fenwick).
Richard married Diana Terry in 1971, but they divorced that year.
Richard O’Sullivan and model Diana Terry married – and divorced – in 1971. Photo / Getty Images
He then tied the knot with Christine Smart in 1987, but they divorced seven years later.
Richard retired from public life in 1996, with his final TV appearance coming three years later as a guest on the BBC biographical series This Is Your Life, to honour his Doctor co-star George Layton.
– BANG Showbiz