Norman Eshley who starred in beloved British sitcom George And Mildred has died aged 80.
The actor and writer, who had been living with cancer, died on August 2 at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital with his wife Rachel by his side, his agent Thomas Bowington confirmed.
The star was best known for playing snobby neighbour Jeffrey in the hit 1970s series, featuring opposite Brian Murphy and Yootha Joyce.
The popular show tracked a middle-aged housewife’s growing frustration with her harsh and downbeat husband as the pair adapted to life in an up-market housing estate in Hampton Wick, Richmond-upon-Thames.
Eshley’s character is deeply concerned the couple’s arrival will devalue his swanky property with tensions rising across five series and a 1980 film adaptation.
The show was a spin-off of Man About The House, in which he also appeared as two different characters.
Mr Bowington said: ‘It is with great sadness that I have to announce the death of our client actor Norman Eshley.
‘A warm, kind and grounded man with a great voice that I will miss not hearing over the phone again.’
Norman Eshley pictured in beloved British sitcom George And Mildred. The actor has died aged 80
The star was best known for playing snobby neighbour Jeffrey in the hit 1970s series, featuring opposite Brian Murphy, pictured right, and Yootha Joyce, left
Eshley pictured with Joyce in George and Mildred. The actor and writer, who had been living with cancer, died on August 2 at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital
Eshley pictured with his third wife Rachel. The couple got married in 2015
His third wife Rachel said: ‘Although our time together wasn’t long enough I will be forever grateful for the wonderful times we shared.Â
‘He was my husband and best friend and my heart will always be with him.’Â
Eshley was educated at Bristol Grammar School and completed his training as an actor at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
He kicked off his career performing in Shakespearian plays before working on some successful West End productions.Â
The actor made his film debut starring in Orson Welles drama The Immortal Story in 1968.
He went on to appear in a string of popular TV series including Canterbury Tales, an adaptation of Chaucer’s famous stories, and Warship, a show about life aboard the fictional Royal Navy vessel HMS Hero.
Rachel, pictured right, said: ‘Although our time together wasn’t long enough I will be forever grateful for the wonderful times we shared’
The star pictured with ex-wife Millicent Martin after their wedding in 1969. They got a divorce four years later
Eshley’s character in George and Mildred, pictured, is deeply concerned the title characters’ arrival will devalue his swanky property
Tensions rise across five series and a 1980 film adaptation (pictured: Eshley with Sheila Fearn, left, and Nicholas Bond-Owen, right, in the show)
Eshley pictured with Murphy in George and Mildred. The show was a spin-off of Man About The House, in which he also appeared as two different characters
The star, pictured with Joyce, was educated at Bristol Grammar School and completed his training as an actor at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
After his stint on George And Mildred, he turned his attention towards writing and co-authored The Dreamtime Of The Artful Dodger, a sequel to Oliver Twist (pictured: Eshley with Fearn, left, and Joyce, right)
Eshley pictured with Pauline Collins on the TV show The Black Tower
The actor made his film debut starring in Orson Welles drama The Immortal Story in 1968
He went on to appear in a string of popular TV series including Canterbury Tales, an adaptation of Chaucer’s famous stories
After his successful stint on George And Mildred, he turned his attention towards writing and co-authored The Dreamtime Of The Artful Dodger, a sequel to Charles Dickens novel Oliver Twist.
He was married to actress Millicent Martin between 1969 and 1973 before tying the knot with Lynette Braid in 1980.
The couple divorced a year later and Eshley married third wife Rachel in 2015.Â
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