Emphysema claims his life

Good Life star Richard Briers has died at the age of 79, just days after revealing he was suffering from chronic lung disease.

He said earlier this month: I’ve got emphysema, you see. I get very breathless, which is a pain in the backside.

‘I haven’t even got the strength to garden any more. Five hundred thousand cigarettes, that’s the trouble. Trying to get upstairs – oh God, it’s ridiculous.’

His credits also include the Eighties sitcom Ever Decreasing Circles and the Sixties series Marriage Lines opposite Prunella Scales, his lifelong friend.

His agent Christopher Farrar said Briers – who was awarded an OBE in 1989 for his services to drama – died 'peacefully' at his London home on Sunday.

He 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.'

After his long career as a bumbling, good-hearted everyman in sitcoms – not to mention lending his voice to children's TV classic Roobarb and Custard – Briers joined Kenneth Branagh's Renaissance Theatre Company in 1987, and became an acclaimed Shakespearean actor.

Sir Kenneth told Sky News: 'He was a national treasure, a great actor and a wonderful man. He was greatly loved and he will be deeply missed.'

Among others playing tribute were comedian David Schneider who called him 'a genius actor and a warm, lovely, and wonderfully entertaining man'.

Radio Times TV editor Alison Graham ‏said: 'Oh Richard Briers, I felt I grew up with him, he WAS telly to me when I was a kid. A peerless comic actor. Unforgettable.'

And actors' union Equity tweeted: 'Saddened to learn of death of inspirational Richard Briers. A brilliant actor and gentle man.'

Briers married the actress Anne Davies in 1956, after meeting in rep theatre. They had two daughters.

Here he is in The Good Life:

And Marriage Lines:

Published: 18 Feb 2013