Rest in peace, my love
One of my first celebrity crushes, John Inman has died. This is the first celebrity death since George Harrison that has really affected me. I always feel silly when I'm so deeply saddened by someone who I didn't know (although I did have the pleasure of meeting John Inman once). I'll try to post pictures of that meeting later. He was really one of the gentle souls, you could just tell. He was so sweet to me and to my grandmother when we met him. And what a talent he was.
I remember the first time I saw an episode of Are You Being Served? I was at my grandmother's and she had begun taping the episodes from PBS. I believe I was about eight years old. I had always had a thing for "sissies" the effeminate clowns of ambiguous sexual orientation. Actually Edward Everett Horton from the Fred Astaire movies was the first man I remember feeling amorous feelings toward at about age two or three (he was sited in the film "The Celluloid Closet" as the stereotypical "sissy".)
It was love at first sight. Mr. Humphries (John Inman's character on the show) was nothing like the other men on the show, he was gentle, sweet, respectful of women, and such a "good boy." I began fantasizing about him constantly and watching Are You Being Served? every chance I got. When I played house with my friends, John Inman was my imaginary husband.
A few years ago he married his partner Ron Lynch and I was so devastated because I had heard in interviews that he actually had a girlfriend. I know it's silly but I liked thinking of him as a man who liked girls; it gave me a chance to hold out hope that one day I'd run off with him. I am glad that he and his partner were able to spend at least a few years together married. I feel so sorry for Ron Lynch who is devastated.
I can't express how much joy this man brought into my life. Thank you John for all the laughs, the thrills, and happy memories. I love you.
Inman died at St. Mary’s Hospital in London after a lengthy illness, his manager, Phil Dale, said in a statement.
“John, through his character Mr. Humphries of ‘Are You Being Served?’ was known and loved throughout the world,” Dale said.
“He was one of the best and finest pantomime dames working to capacity audiences throughout Britain. John was known for his comedy plays and farces, which were enjoyed from London’s West End throughout the country and as far as Australia, Canada and the U.S.A.”
Inman’s long-term partner, Ron Lynch, was “devastated” at the news, the BBC said.
Actress Wendy Richard, who played Miss Brahms in “Are You Being Served?,” said she had been regularly visiting Inman, who had been ill with Hepatitis A.
“You just have to regard it as being an end to his suffering,” a tearful Richard told BBC radio.
“I think John was one of the wittiest and most inventive actors I have ever worked with. He was a brilliant, brilliant pantomime dame. He was a very good all-round actor, really.”
Inman’s character Mr. Humphries attracted criticism from gay rights groups upset by what they saw as his portrayal of an over-the-top homosexual.
“He never ever said Mr. Humphries was gay,” Richard said. ”He was just a young man who was very, very good to his mother.”
Are You Being Served?’ actor Inman dies at 71
'76's ‘Funniest Man on Television’ played quirky Mr. Humphries on BBC show
John Inman was famous for his catchphrase ‘I'm free’ on the BBC sitcom ‘Are You Being Served?’
Updated: 5:20 p.m. CT March 8, 2007
LONDON - Actor John Inman, best known for his role as campy shop assistant Mr. Humphries in the long-running BBC comedy “Are You Being Served?” died Thursday. He was 71.
Inman, who later became a pantomime regular, was one of the sitcom’s most memorable cast members and his catchphrase “I’m free” became part of popular culture.
In 1976, he was voted “Funniest Man on Television” by readers of TV Times magazine and was also named BBC TV’s “Personality of the Year.”
Inman died at St. Mary’s Hospital in London after a lengthy illness, his manager, Phil Dale, said in a statement.
“John, through his character Mr. Humphries of ‘Are You Being Served?’ was known and loved throughout the world,” Dale said.
“He was one of the best and finest pantomime dames working to capacity audiences throughout Britain. John was known for his comedy plays and farces, which were enjoyed from London’s West End throughout the country and as far as Australia, Canada and the U.S.A.”
Inman’s long-term partner, Ron Lynch, was “devastated” at the news, the BBC said.
Actress Wendy Richard, who played Miss Brahms in “Are You Being Served?,” said she had been regularly visiting Inman, who had been ill with Hepatitis A.
“You just have to regard it as being an end to his suffering,” a tearful Richard told BBC radio.
“I think John was one of the wittiest and most inventive actors I have ever worked with. He was a brilliant, brilliant pantomime dame. He was a very good all-round actor, really.”
Inman’s character Mr. Humphries attracted criticism from gay rights groups upset by what they saw as his portrayal of an over-the-top homosexual.
“He never ever said Mr. Humphries was gay,” Richard said. ”He was just a young man who was very, very good to his mother.”