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that an enormous number of viewers like Mr
Humphries and don't really care whether he's camp or not. So far from doing harm to the homosexual image, I feel I might be doing some good." Both Inman and David Croft stated that the character was "just a mother's boy", and that his sexual orientation was never explicitly stated. Inman continued to play in live shows after his success as Mr Humphries, and began to incorporate camp mannerisms to those performances too, once saying "Even when I'm not playing Mr Humphries, say at a summer season, I camp it up a bit. If I don't the audience are disappointed."
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picketed one of his shows in protest as they believed his persona did not help their cause. Inman said: "They thought I was over exaggerating the gay character. But I don't think I do. In fact there are people far more camp than Mr. Humphries walking around this country. Anyway, I know for a fact
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ran for 10 series until 1985. At its peak in 1979 it attracted
British audiences of 22 million viewers while Inman's portrayal of Mr Humphries made him a household name. The series also became popular in the
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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, and a high-pitched
496:, where Inman became a gay cultural icon. Once, in San Francisco, a passing cyclist spotted Inman and fell off his bicycle in surprise, crying "Mr Humphries, I love you!"
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as one of the most celebrated Ugly Sister acts in pantomime and throughout later years established himself as one of the country's best-loved
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with his partner of 33 years, Ron Lynch. In his will, he left nearly all of his estate, valued at more than £2.8 million, to Lynch.
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released five singles by Inman, usually in character as Mr
Humphries. "Are You Being Served, Sir?" reached number 39 in the
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in the United States), which ran for twelve episodes in 1992 and 1993. Inman had a small part as Lady
Capulet in the film
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After leaving school, Inman worked for two years at Fox's, a gentlemen's outfitters in
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character. The pilot was broadcast in
September 1972. The broadcast was followed by the five episodes of the
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of the series, in which the characters visited the fictional
Spanish holiday resort of "Costa Plonka." In
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readers' Funniest Man on
Television. He was also a well-known character actor in the United Kingdom as a
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In
December 2004, Inman was forced to cancel an appearance in a pantomime as he was suffering from a
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on ITV and attracted little attention, though repeats later that year proved very successful.
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178:(28 June 1935 – 8 March 2007) was an English actor and singer best known for his role as
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in 2001 after suffering breathing difficulties and spent three days in intensive care.
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Philip Hope-Wallace, 'How Now Brown Cow' London
Guardian 5 November 1965 p. 9
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Inman suffered from poor health in his later years. He was hospitalised with
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in the late 1970s and included on the show's official BBC soundtrack album.
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582:(1981), a sitcom in which Inman played Graham Jones, who is secretary to
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Inman toured Australia, starring in a number of productions including
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John O'Callaghan 'What a Racket' London Guardian 3 December 1963 p. 7
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He was the only actor from those series to reprise the role when an
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In 1976, Inman was named both BBC TV Personality of the Year and
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Inman died early in the morning of 8 March 2007, aged 71, at
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Christmas special. He appeared as Father Chinwag in the film
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in 1993, and collapsed on stage in 1995. He was admitted to
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From 1980 to 1981, Inman also played Mr Humphries in the
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in early 1973. The first series was scheduled opposite
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Shann, Rosalie. "His Biggest Fans are Adoring Women",
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Inman made his television debut in 1965 in the sitcom
421:. In 1970, he acted in one episode of the ITV sitcom
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During the sixties, Inman won a reputation alongside
234:). At the age of 12, Inman moved with his parents to
568:(1977), his own sitcom, Inman played the owner of a
451:, and based on the latter's experiences working at
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595:(1989), and was one of five of the
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615:(1998) and appeared in the 1999
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1484:"Are You Being Served?"
1482:Lewisohn, Mark (2003).
1391:. BBC. 9 December 2004.
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1257:"Obituary: John Inman"
1214:. 2009. Archived from
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1259:. BBC. 8 March 2007.
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73:28 June 1935
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1605:Gay singers
1520:2007 deaths
1515:1935 births
1133:Orion Books
1038:5 episodes
973:Uncredited
884:6 episodes
828:7 episodes
820:Odd Man Out
772:2 episodes
724:Filmography
710:Westminster
679:hepatitis A
584:Rula Lenska
565:Odd Man Out
521:BBC Radio 1
501:DJM Records
478:catchphrase
429:David Croft
387:Pyjama Tops
290:Equity Card
274:Austin Reed
244:dressmaking
232:Odd Man Out
141:Odd Man Out
104:Nationality
1509:Categories
1496:John Inman
1473:John Inman
1464:John Inman
1431:20 January
1063:References
1007:1 episode
991:1 episode
919:1 episode
899:John Inman
790:1 episode
765:Hugh and I
668:Paddington
664:bronchitis
530:Ed Stewart
418:Hugh and I
383:Fancy Free
341:Salad Days
259:South Pier
218:Early life
136:Television
120:Occupation
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69:1935-06-28
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1196:. London.
1164:The Times
988:Darth Sid
955:TV movie
924:1992–1993
851:1980–1981
795:1972–1985
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560:1977 film
354:in 1979.
252:elocution
236:Blackpool
131:1948–2004
112:Education
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1407:Sky News
1356:Obituary
1159:Obituary
1090:Archived
1087:Obituary
1031:Revolver
657:Revolver
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625:(2000).
605:(titled
509:I'm Free
302:West End
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350:at the
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224:Preston
166:Partner
107:British
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1004:Tailor
787:Bowler
740:Notes
385:, and
1053:Teddy
734:Title
363:dames
286:Crewe
263:Freda
123:Actor
1468:IMDb
1433:2012
1043:2004
1027:2004
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871:1981
833:1977
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737:Role
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655:and
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