Richard O’Sullivan, a prominent British television actor known for his roles in sitcoms like Man About the House and the series Dick Turpin, has died at age 82.

Richard O’Sullivan, who began his career as a child actor at age seven, has died at 82. He became a fixture of British television between 1972 and 1981, starring in more than 100 episodes of peak-time ITV comedies. His career was defined by roles that reflected the social and sexual freedoms of the era, most notably as Robin Tripp in the sitcom Man About the House and its spin-off, Robin’s Nest.

Television Career and Roles

O’Sullivan’s breakthrough came with the role of Dr. Lawrence Bingham in the hospital sitcom Doctor in Charge. He later starred in Man About the House, where his character lived with two single women, a premise that generated sexual tension and required approval from TV regulators. He continued his success with the title role in the series Dick Turpin, which aired from 1979 to 1982, and later starred as a widower in the 1980s sitcom Me and My Girl.

Personal Life and Later Years

O’Sullivan’s public profile was bolstered by his relationships with co-stars, including a high-profile relationship with Tessa Wyatt, his onscreen girlfriend in Robin’s Nest. Following a decline in health, his final screen credit occurred in 1996. After suffering a stroke in 2002, he resided at Brinsworth House, a retirement home for entertainers in London.