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| The Good Life's Richard Briers dies at 79 | The Good Life's Richard Briers dies at 79 |
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| The actor Richard Briers, best known for starring in the popular BBC comedy The Good Life, has died at the age of 79. | The actor Richard Briers, best known for starring in the popular BBC comedy The Good Life, has died at the age of 79. |
| Briers, who played the self-effacing Tom in the series, had been ill for a number of years with emphysema. | Briers, who played the self-effacing Tom in the series, had been ill for a number of years with emphysema. |
| The actor, who also starred in shows such as Ever Decreasing Circles and Monarch of the Glen as well as a number of stage productions, died peacefully at his London home on Sunday, his agent said. | |
| Briers, who began his acting career at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1956, will probably be best remembered for his sitcom work but was also feted for his classical stage roles. | Briers, who began his acting career at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1956, will probably be best remembered for his sitcom work but was also feted for his classical stage roles. |
| He joined Kenneth Branagh's Renaissance theatre company in 1987, taking on roles such as Malvolio in Twelfth Night and, at Branagh's suggestion, King Lear in 1990. | He joined Kenneth Branagh's Renaissance theatre company in 1987, taking on roles such as Malvolio in Twelfth Night and, at Branagh's suggestion, King Lear in 1990. |
| Branagh paid tribute to Briers on Monday. "He was a national treasure, a great actor and a wonderful man. He was greatly loved and he will be deeply missed," he said. | Branagh paid tribute to Briers on Monday. "He was a national treasure, a great actor and a wonderful man. He was greatly loved and he will be deeply missed," he said. |
| Briers' film credits included A Chorus of Disapproval (1989) and Watership Down (1978), for which he supplied the voice of Fiver. He also narrated the children's cartoon series Roobarb and Custard. | |
| He spoke publicly about his illness in an interview with the Daily Mail in January and blamed years of smoking for his condition. "It's totally my fault," Briers said. "So, I get very breathless, which is a pain in the backside. Trying to get upstairs … oh God, it's ridiculous. Of course, when you're bloody nearly 80 it's depressing, because you've had it anyway." | He spoke publicly about his illness in an interview with the Daily Mail in January and blamed years of smoking for his condition. "It's totally my fault," Briers said. "So, I get very breathless, which is a pain in the backside. Trying to get upstairs … oh God, it's ridiculous. Of course, when you're bloody nearly 80 it's depressing, because you've had it anyway." |
| His agent, Christopher Farrar, said: "Richard was a wonderful man, a consummate professional and an absolute joy to work alongside. Following his recent discussion of his battle with emphysema, I know he was incredibly touched by the strength of support expressed by friends and the public. | His agent, Christopher Farrar, said: "Richard was a wonderful man, a consummate professional and an absolute joy to work alongside. Following his recent discussion of his battle with emphysema, I know he was incredibly touched by the strength of support expressed by friends and the public. |
| "He has a unique and special place in the hearts of so many. He will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and deepest sympathy go to his family at this sad time." | "He has a unique and special place in the hearts of so many. He will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and deepest sympathy go to his family at this sad time." |
| Stephen Fry, who worked with Briers in the 1992 film Peter's Friends, in which the older actor played his father, said on Twitter: "Oh no, I've just heard the news that Richard Briers has died. How sad. He was the most adorable and funny man imaginable." | |
| Fry was joined by comedian Ricky Gervais, who tweeted: "RIP the wonderful Richard Briers." | |
| Briers, who was awarded the OBE in 1989 for services to the arts, was married to the actor Ann Davies, and the couple had two daughters, Lucy and Katie. Lucy has become as successful actor and Katie has worked in stage management. | Briers, who was awarded the OBE in 1989 for services to the arts, was married to the actor Ann Davies, and the couple had two daughters, Lucy and Katie. Lucy has become as successful actor and Katie has worked in stage management. |