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"Are You Being Served?" actor John Inman dies

British actor John Inman, best know worldwide as Mr Humphries on "Are You Being Served" passed away at age 71.

I'm so saddened by this news. I came to know Are You Being Served through PBS here in the States, watching the show five nights a week. John was by far my favorite from the series. He was always a treat to watch, and often appeared during PBS Fundraising Drives, where he was always well spoken and polite.

He will be greatly missed.


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I couldn't bring myself to post this earlier. John Inman was one of the best, bar none. He always brought a smile to my face and I think watching Are You Being Served just made me more an Anglophile than I was after being introduce to Monty Python.

This really brings a tear to my eye.

Mind that angelic robe, Mr. Humphries. It'll ride up with wear.

R.I.P.

frown

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The BBC has a longer obituary along with some photos and tributes from readers.

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feelin' hot hot hot
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Awww. I love John Inman. Mr. Humphries was just so... and... shake Sad news. frown

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One of the greats, definitely.

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Gosh.

One of the all time best actors in a truly wonderful and immensely funny show. He portrayal of Mr. Humphries and this show in general were better by far than most of the dreck we get shoved at us on a daily basis.

You have served us well Mr. Humphries. May you now be truly free.

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Not much between despair and ecstacy
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Just when I started to get bored with TV in the mid '90s, along came reuns of "AYBS" and Inman. The show introduced me to the whole genre of Britcoms, which I still enjoy through "As Time Goes By" and "Keeping Up Appearances."

"AYBS" stood out for its ensemble cast and such delightfully wonderful actors. Though Inman emerged as the star of the show -- his name gradually moved to first in the credits -- he never stole the show, at least not more so than Captain Peacock or Mrs. Slocombe or the rest. It was a show where everyone contributed something unique.

Rest in peace, Mr. Inman.


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AYBS is the sort of show that, no matter how many times you see it, it never seems to get old. This despite the fact that the episodes are generally very formulaic, with a basic stock of jokes carried over from one episode to the next.

A significant part of that has to be credited to the brilliant acting of John Inman and the rest.

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Fabulous and Sparkly!
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Even though it was never explicitly stated, Mr Humphries was one of TV's first gay characters. He was played to camp and stereotype to be sure, but he was overall a positive character.

Requiescat in pace.


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Quote
Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester:
AYBS is the sort of show that, no matter how many times you see it, it never seems to get old. This despite the fact that the episodes are generally very formulaic, with a basic stock of jokes carried over from one episode to the next.

A significant part of that has to be credited to the brilliant acting of John Inman and the rest.
Very true. I've been watching AYBS for at least 20 years, seen every episode and the movie, yet could sit down tonight and pop one of the DVDs in the player and watch a couple of hours. I'm hard pressed to think of an American sitcom with such a ensemble I can say the same thing about, outside of Seinfeld. And even then I'd watch AYBS or Seinfeld any day.

I don't think I've felt as personally affected by an actor's passing since James Doohan.

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AYBS? wasn't the kind of show I'd normally care about. Too many iffy gags, mixed with the odd cringeworthy moment which betrayed the show's burlesque roots. (I mean, minstrel show musical sequences? Geez.)

But I liked it, and that was down to the work that the cast put in, none more so than John Inman. He'll be missed.


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