Welcome back to My 70s TV Childhood! This week we are marking the sad passing of Richard O'Sullivan, who died peacefully at Brinsworth House in Twickenham on 4 September 2026, aged 82. In his time, Richard was one of the most popular and best-known actors on British television, and for millions of viewers he was, quite simply, Robin Tripp.
This week Oliver looks back at a career that spanned more than four decades, from a cheeky child actor appearing in Cleopatra alongside Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, through the role that made him a household name in Man About the House, the spinoffs Robin's Nest and George and Mildred, his turn as Britain's most lovable highwayman in Dick Turpin, and his later success in Me and My Girl.
What to Expect:
The early years: From the Corona Stage Academy to the RSC at Stratford aged twelve, Richard O'Sullivan was working professionally before most of us had done our O-levels.
Cleopatra and Hollywood: How a nineteen-year-old from Chiswick ended up playing Ptolemy XIII opposite Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton in one of the most expensive films ever made.
Doctor at Large and Doctor in Charge: The television roles that established him as an adult comic actor with exceptional timing.
Man About the House: The show that made him a star, the chemistry with Paula Wilcox and Sally Thomsett, and why Robin Tripp remains one of the most fondly remembered characters in British sitcom history.
Robin's Nest and George and Mildred: Two spinoffs, both hits, and why the transition from flat-share to restaurant was a riskier move than it looked.
Dick Turpin: Robin Tripp in a tricorn hat? Perhaps. But Richard made the period adventure series entirely his own.
Me and My Girl: A very different role, a widowed father, and proof that he could evolve beyond the character that made him famous.
Brinsworth House and the Meghan Markle story: Whether it is true or not, Oliver rather hopes it is.
Do you have fond memories of Man About the House, Robin's Nest or Dick Turpin? Oliver would love to hear from you. Get in touch and let him know!
Take care,
Oliver
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