Richard O’Sullivan, the British actor whose Man About the House character, Robin Tripp, provided the inspiration for John Ritter’s signature Three’s Company role, has died. He was 82.
O’Sullivan died Friday surrounded by close family at Brinsworth House, a care home in west London, according to BBC News. He had lived there for 23 years after suffering a stroke in 2003. A cause of death wasn’t given.
“My dad was as funny and charming in real life as he appeared on our TV screens over the years,” said his son, James, in a statement. “Although much of his career happened before I was born, I was fortunate enough to be able to enjoy and witness his incredible talents on the countless reruns of his shows that made him the respected and loved actor that he was.”
O’Sullivan’s biggest role came in 1973 with Man About the House, written by Johnnie Mortimer and Brian Cooke. The Briton played student chef Robin Tripp in the show, considered pretty daring for its time as it depicted a man living in a London flat with two single women, Chrissy (Paula Wilcox) and Jo (Sally Thomsett). The landlords, George (Brian Murphy) and his sexually frustrated wife, Mildred (Yootha Joyce), are told that Robin is gay.
