John Inman
John Inman as Mr Humphries
Birth name	Frederick John Inman
Born	28 June 1935(1935-06-28) Preston, Lancashire, England
Died	8 March 2007 (aged 71) St Mary's Hospital, London, England
Official site	Official site

Frederick John Inman (28 June 1935 – 8 March 2007) was an English actor who was best known for his role as Mr. Humphries in the British sitcom Are You Being Served? in the 1970s and 1980s. Inman was also well known in the United Kingdom as a pantomime dame. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... is the 179th day of the year (180th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar). ... This article is about Preston, Lancashire. ... Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England, bounded to the west by the Irish Sea. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... is the 67th day of the year (68th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... St Marys Hospital QEQM building (above) and old section (below). ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... is the 179th day of the year (180th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar). ... is the 67th day of the year (68th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Actor (disambiguation). ... This is a list of characters that appeared in the BBC sitcom Are You Being Served?, that aired from 1972 to 1985. ... A British sitcom is a situation comedy (sitcom) produced in the United Kingdom. ... Are You Being Served? was a long-running British sitcom broadcast from 1972 to 1985. ... A pantomime dame is a traditional character in British Panto. ...

Early life

Inman was born in 1935 in Preston, Lancashire,^[1] and was a cousin of actress Josephine Tewson. At the age of 12, Inman moved with his parents to Blackpool where his mother ran a boarding house, while his father owned a hairdressing business.^[1] As a child, he enjoyed dressmaking.^[2][3] He was educated at Claridge House in Preston, and then a secondary modern.^[2] Inman always wanted to be an actor, and his parents paid for him to have elocution lessons at the local church hall.^[1] At the age of 13 he made his stage debut in the Pavilion on Blackpool's South Pier, in a melodrama entitled Freda.^[1] Aged 15, he took a job at the pier, making tea, clearing up, and playing parts in plays.^[4] This article is about Preston, Lancashire. ... Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England, bounded to the west by the Irish Sea. ... Josephine Tewson (born February 26, 1939) is a British actress, best known for her role as Elizabeth Warden in Keeping Up Appearances (1990–1995). ... It has been suggested that South Shore, Blackpool be merged into this article or section. ... Boarding House is a privately owned house,in which individuals or families on vaccation, holidays, deputition,transfered on temporary duties, on some particular training,short&mediun tenure visitors,working professionals & lodgers,rent one or more rooms sets for one or more nights,sometimes for extended periods of weeks, months and... For other uses see Dressmaker (disambiguation) A dressmaker is a person who makes custom clothing for women, such as dresses, blouses, and evening gowns. ... Secondary modern schools are a type of school in British educational systems, part of the Tripartite System. ... Elocution is proper speaking in pronunciation, grammar, style, and tone. ...

After leaving school, Inman worked for two years at Fox's, a gentlemen's outfitters in Blackpool, specialising in window dressing.^[2]. Aged 17, he moved to London to join Austin Reed in Regent Street.^[1] Four years later, he left Austin Reed to become a scenic artist with Kenneth Kendall's touring company at a theatre in Crewe,^[3] so that he could earn his Equity Card.^[1] Inman made his West End debut in the 1960s when he appeared in Ann Veronica at the Cambridge Theatre.^[4] He also played in Salad Days at the Windmill Theatre in 1975, and as Lord Fancourt Babberley in Charley's Aunt at the Adelphi Theatre in 1979. He also played in many summer shows, and established himself as a dame in pantomime, appearing regularly as one of the two ugly sisters alongside comedian Barry Howard.^[3] This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Austin Reed is a British fashion retailer known for its menswear. ... The Quadrant at the bottom of Regent Street. ... Kenneth Kendall (born August 7, 1924) is a British broadcaster and journalist. ... Map sources for Crewe at grid reference SJ705557 Crewe is a town in south Cheshire, in the north west of England. ... The British Actors Equity Association (now called Equity) is the British actors trade union. ... West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre in London, England, or sometimes more specifically for shows staged in the large theatres of Londons Theatreland. Along with New Yorks Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre... Ann Veronica is a novel by H.G. Wells first published in 1909. ... Jerry Springer – The Opera at the Cambridge Theatre The Cambridge Theatre in London is a modern theatre, facing Seven Dials, built using steel and concrete and is notable for its elegant and clean lines of design. ... Salad Days is a romantic Shounen Manga created by Shinobu Inokuma, which is a collection of romance stories occuring in a High School/college setting Salad Days is different as compared to other mainstream manga which usually have plotlines relating to super heroes/super heroines, adventures or in contrary, mushy... The Windmill Theatre, later the Windmill Club, was a famous West End theatre in Great Windmill Street, London. ... W. S. Penley as the first Charleys Aunt, Donna Lucia d’Alvadorez in 1892 Charleys Aunt is a farce in three acts written by Brandon Thomas that broke all historic records for plays of any kind, with an original London run of 1,466 performances. ... The Adam brothers Adelphi Buildings in an 18th-century print; the terrace stood upon riverfront warehousing. ... A pantomime dame is a traditional character in British Panto. ... The Christmas Pantomime colour lithograph bookcover, 1890 Pantomime (informally, panto) refers to a theatrical genre, traditionally found in Great Britain, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Ireland, which is usually performed around the Christmas and New Year holiday season. ... Barry Howard (born 1937) is an English actor who is best known for his role as Barry Stuart-Hargreaves in the long-running BBC sitcom Hi-de-Hi!. His deadpan comedy style and classic facial expressions made him a very popular character. ...

Television fame

Inman made his television debut in the sitcom Two In Clover in 1970. In 1972, he was asked by David Croft to play a part in a Comedy Playhouse pilot called Are You Being Served?.^[1] This was a sitcom set in a department store, written by scriptwriters David Croft and Jeremy Lloyd, and based on the latter's experiences working at Simpson's in Piccadilly Circus.^[2] Playing a minor role with only a few lines, he was soon asked to "camp it up".^[2][4], despite initial reluctance from the BBC to include such a camp character. The pilot was broadcast in September 1972. The broadcast was followed by the five episodes of the first series in early 1973. The first series showing opposite Coronation Street on ITV attracted little attention, but repeats later that year were very successful.^[2] Two in Clover was a British sitcom that ran from 1969 to 1970 consisting of thirteen episodes over two series, made by Thames Television for ITV. It starred Sid James and Victor Spinetti and was written by Vince Powell and Harry Driver, Alan Tarrant was the Producer and Director. ... David Croft (born September 7, 1922 in Sandbanks, United Kingdom) is a writer, producer and actor. ... Comedy Playhouse was an occasional BBC television anthology series of the 1960s and early 1970s, consisting of one-off plays with the potential to be turned into regular sitcoms. ... The following is a list of episodes for the British sitcom Are You Being Served? that aired from 1972 to 1985. ... The interior of a typical Macys department store. ... David Croft (born September 7, 1922 in Sandbanks, United Kingdom) is a writer, producer and actor. ... Jeremy Lloyd (born 1932) is an English actor and scriptwriter, best known as the co-author of several successful British sitcoms. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... A television pilot is a test episode of an intended television series. ... The following is a list of episodes for the British sitcom Are You Being Served? that aired from 1972 to 1985. ... Coronation Street is an award winning British soap opera. ...

Inman played the camp Mr. Wilberforce Claybourne Humphries and his earlier career in the clothes retail business was good preparation for this role in a menswear department. Inman developed a characteristic limp-wristed mincing walk,^[3] and a high-pitched catch phrase, "I'm free!", which soon entered popular culture.^[5] Although the catch phrase and the character were popular, Inman came under attack by some gay rights groups for what they perceived to be his stereotypical portrayal of a homosexual.^[6] However, both Inman and David Croft stated that the character was "just a mother's boy" and his sexual orientation was never explicitly stated.^[1] Camp is an aesthetic in which something has appeal because of its bad taste or ironic value. ... This is a list of characters that appeared in the BBC sitcom Are You Being Served?, that aired from 1972 to 1985. ... A catch phrase is a phrase or expression that is popularized, usually through repeated use, by a real person or fictional character. ... The gay rights movement is a collection of loosely aligned civil rights groups, human rights groups, support groups and political activists seeking acceptance, tolerance and equality for non-heterosexual, (homosexual, bisexual), and transgender people - despite the fact that it is typically referred to as the gay rights movement, members also... Homosexuality refers to sexual interaction and / or romantic attraction between individuals of the same sex. ...

Are You Being Served? ran for ten series until it finished in 1985. At its height, in the late 1970s, it regularly attracted British audiences of up to 20 million viewers.^[3] Inman's portrayal of Mr Humphries won him the BBC TV Personality of the Year in 1976 and he was voted the funniest man on television by TV Times readers.^[7] From 1980 to 1981, Inman also played Mr Humphries in the Australian version of Are You Being Served?, set in a store named "Bone Brothers" to avoid problems with a real business named Grace Brothers. The series also became popular in the United States, where Inman became a gay cultural icon.^[4] Once, in San Francisco, a passing cyclist spotted Inman and fell off his bicycle in surprise, crying "Mr Humphries, I love you!"^[4] The TV Times is a television listings magazine published in the United Kingdom. ... Are You Being Served? (Australian version) was an Australian version of British sitcom Are You Being Served? produced by Network 10 in 1980. ... This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ...

During the 69-episode, 13-year run of Are You Being Served?, Inman also appeared in the 1977 film of the series, in which the characters visited the fictional Spanish holiday resort of "Costa Plonka"; Odd Man Out, his own sitcom in 1977, playing the owner of a fish-and-chip shop who inherits half of a rock factory; and Take a Letter, Mr. Jones, a 1981 sitcom where Inman played Graham Jones, who is secretary to Rula Lenska's character Joan Warner. Inman also toured with his own shows, and he released several records, including Are You Being Served, Sir?, which reached number 39 in the UK singles charts. This came from an LP of the same name, and was followed by two further albums: I'm Free in 1977 and With a Bit of Brass in 1978. Take A Letter, Mr. ... Rula Lenska (born Roza-Marie Leopoldyna Lubienska on 30 September 1947) is an English-born actress of Polish extraction who is best known for her television work and for her marriage to Dennis Waterman. ...

He made a cameo appearance in the film The Tall Guy in 1989, and was one of five of the Are You Being Served? cast to be reunited in character for the sitcom Grace & Favour, which ran for twelve episodes from 1992 and 1993. In 1999, he appeared in a French & Saunders Christmas special. He appeared as Father Chinwag in the 2000 film The Mumbo Jumbo. Thompson as Kate. ... This article is about the British television show Grace & Favour. ... French & Saunders is a British sketch comedy television show written by and starring Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, and also the name by which the performers are known on the rare occasions when they appear elsewhere as a double act. ...

Later years

After the end of Are You Being Served?, Inman became one of the nation's best known pantomime dames and appeared in over 40 pantomime productions across the United Kingdom.^[7] In 2004, Inman made additional television appearances in Doctors and Revolver. A pantomime dame is a traditional character in British Panto. ...

He lived in a mews house in Little Venice for 30 years.^[2] On 23 December 2005, Inman entered in a civil partnership at Westminster Register Office with his partner of 35 years, Ron Lynch.^[4][8][9] Dunworth Mews, a street of mews houses in Notting Hill, London Mews is chiefly a British term referring to a certain type of stabling with living quarters. ... Little Venice is an area of central London, situated north-west of Paddington station. ... is the 357th day of the year (358th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Metropolitan Community Church vicar Debbie Gaston (right) with partner Elaine celebrating their Civil Partnership outside Brighton Town Hall on 21 December 2005 As unregistered cohabitation Recognised in some regions Recognised prior to legalisation of same-sex marriage Netherlands (nationwide) (1998) Spain (12 of 17 communities) (1998) South Africa (nationwide) (1999... Westminster is a district within the City of Westminster in London. ... In England and Wales, The Register Office is primarily the local office for the registration of births, deaths and marriages (BD&M), and for the conducting of civil marriages. ...

Wikinews has related news:

British actor John Inman dies at 71

Inman suffered from poor health in his later years. He was hospitalised with bronchitis in 1993, and collapsed on the stage in 1995.^[10] He was admitted to Paddington's St Mary's Hospital in 2001 after suffering breathing difficulties and spent three days in intensive care.^[8] Image File history File links WikiNews-Logo. ... Wikinews is a free-content news source and a project of the Wikimedia Foundation. ... Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchi (medium-size airways) in the lungs. ... A street in Paddington including a pub, a restaurant targeted at tourists and Paddington Station in the background. ... St Marys Hospital QEQM building (above) and old section (below). ...

In December 2004, Inman was forced to cancel an appearance in a pantomime as he was suffering from a hepatitis A infection, which he had contracted from contaminated food. ^[11] Following this, he never worked again and he suffered complications from the infection for the rest of his life. Inman died early in the morning of 8 March 2007, aged 71, in St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, London.^[12] He was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium after a funeral on the 23 March 2007. ^[13] ← - 2004 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December- → Deaths in December • 30 Artie Shaw • 29 Julius Axelrod • 28 Jacques Dupuis • 28 Jerry Orbach • 28 Susan Sontag • 26 Reggie White • 26 Sir Angus Ogilvy • 23 P. V. Narasimha Rao • 23 Doug Ault • 19 Renata Tebaldi • 16... Hepatitis A (formerly known as infectious hepatitis) is an acute infectious liver disease caused by the hepatovirus hepatitis A virus. ... is the 67th day of the year (68th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Golders Green Crematorium and Mausoleum is one of the oldest crematoria in Britain and opened in 1901 having been designed by the architect Sir Ernest George. ... is the 82nd day of the year (83rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...

References

The Orion Publishing Group Ltd. ... The Times is a national newspaper published daily in the United Kingdom since 1788. ... is the 68th day of the year (69th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... For other uses, see The Independent (disambiguation). ... is the 68th day of the year (69th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... This article concerns the British newspaper. ... is the 67th day of the year (68th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ... is the 67th day of the year (68th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ... is the 67th day of the year (68th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... This article is about a British tabloid. ... is the 67th day of the year (68th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... This article is about a British tabloid. ... December 27 is the 361st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (362nd in leap years). ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Guardian is a British newspaper owned by the Guardian Media Group. ... is the 67th day of the year (68th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ... is the 343rd day of the year (344th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Sky News is a 24-hour British domestic and international television news channel that started broadcasting on 16 February 1989 as part of the then four-channel Sky Television service. ... is the 67th day of the year (68th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ... is the 82nd day of the year (83rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...

External links

• John Inman at the Internet Movie Database
• BBC Obituary - John Inman
• John Inman UK Tribute