The rising star who conquered British sitcoms before his sudden death
In short: Richard Beckinsale was a household name in the 1970s, defining British comedy through iconic roles in Porridge and Rising Damp. Despite his immense success and a prolific career spanning stage and screen, his life was cut short at just 31, leaving behind a legacy of talent and two famous daughters.
Born in 1947 in Nottinghamshire, Beckinsale’s journey to stardom was far from linear. After leaving school at 15, he spent a year working manual labor jobs—including stints as an upholsterer's apprentice, a pipe inspector, and a grocery assistant—before eventually training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He was one of only 31 successful applicants from a massive pool of over 12,500 candidates. Before his formal training, he performed as Dopey in a school production of Snow White. He also gained early recognition for playing Hsieh Ping-Kuei in Lady Precious Stream.
By the mid-1970s, he had become a dominant force in television. He simultaneously starred in the BBC's Porridge as inmate Lennie Godber and the ITV's Rising Damp as medical student Alan Moore. While he found immense success in these comedies, Beckinsale harbored ambitions for more serious roles, even taking on the role of a terrorist in the 1973 film The Donati Conspiracy. He also explored dramatic territory in the 1971 Armchair Theatre episode Detective Waiting.
His final months were marked by physical decline. During the filming of the sitcom Bloomers, he reported dizzy spells and blackouts, though a doctor found only an overactive stomach lining and high cholesterol. In March 1979, while working on the series, he died during the night from what appeared to be a massive heart attack. He was 31 years old. His death occurred shortly after he attended a farewell party for The Two Ronnies.
Beckinsale's personal life was equally complex. The actresses Samantha and Kate Beckinsale were his daughters. His relationship with his first daughter, Samantha, was severed for years following his divorce from Margaret Bradley, but the two reconnected shortly before his death. He shared his life with actress Judy Loe, whom he married in 1977.
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