SO SAD: BELOVED ‘MAN ABOUT THE HOUSE’ STAR DIES AT 82 — HIS HEARTBREAKING FINAL YEARS REVEALED

A beloved face of British television has died at the age of 82, leaving generations of fans mourning a comedy star who once brought laughter into millions of homes.

Richard O’Sullivan, best known for playing the unforgettable Robin Tripp in Man About the House and Robin’s Nest, died peacefully on Friday, surrounded by his close family.

He passed away at Brinsworth House in west London, the Royal Variety Charity’s home for retired entertainers, where he had lived for the past 23 years.

THE STAR WHO MADE MILLIONS LAUGH

O’Sullivan became one of the most recognisable faces of British sitcoms during the 1970s.

As Robin Tripp in Man About the House, he played a young trainee chef sharing a London flat with two women — a premise that was considered daring at the time.

The sitcom ran for six series and became a huge success.

Its popularity eventually led to the spin-off Robin’s Nest, in which O’Sullivan returned as Robin, now running a restaurant with his girlfriend.

The character would also have an impact across the Atlantic.

O’Sullivan’s Robin Tripp helped inspire John Ritter’s Jack Tripper in the American sitcom Three’s Company.

HIS CAREER BEGAN AS A CHILD

Long before becoming a sitcom favourite, O’Sullivan had already entered show business.

He began acting as a child in the 1950s and appeared in films alongside major stars before eventually establishing himself as one of Britain’s best-known television performers.

He later played the title role in Dick Turpin and starred in Me and My Girl, among other television productions.

But behind the laughter, his later years were far quieter.

THE STROKE THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING

O’Sullivan suffered a serious stroke in 2003.

After that, his life changed dramatically and he largely stepped away from acting.

He spent the final 23 years of his life at Brinsworth House, surrounded by other entertainers and supported by the Royal Variety Charity.

Rather than disappearing completely from the memories of television audiences, however, his work continued to live on through reruns.

His performances remained familiar to generations who discovered Man About the House long after its original broadcast.

“A WONDERFUL DAD”

Following his death, tributes poured in from those who knew him and admired his work.

His son, James O’Sullivan, remembered his father as a funny, charming and kind-hearted man who was also a devoted father and grandfather.

He said his father was just as funny and charming in real life as he had appeared on television.

The Royal Variety Charity also paid tribute to O’Sullivan, praising his warmth, wit and exceptional comic timing.

Giles Cooper of the charity described him as a major figure in British television whose performances brought joy to millions.

A LEGACY THAT WILL NOT DISAPPEAR

Richard O’Sullivan may have spent his final decades away from the spotlight.

But the character that made him famous never truly disappeared.

Robin Tripp remains part of British sitcom history — and his influence even crossed the Atlantic through Three’s Company.

For the fans who grew up watching him, his death marks the end of an era.

A familiar face is gone.

But the laughter he left behind remains.

Richard O’Sullivan was 82. He died peacefully surrounded by his family.