Celebrity

‘Keeping Up Appearances’ star Clive Swift dies aged 82

Feb 02, 2019

Clive Smith, pictured alongside Patricia Routledge, was best known for playing Richard Bucket in the BBC sitcom 'Keeping Up Appearances'. Source: Getty

Keeping Up Appearances star Clive Swift has died aged 82. The Sun reports that his agent confirmed he died “peacefully at home” on Friday morning surrounded by his family.

The actor began his career with a number of small roles in the late 1960s, appearing in The Liver Birds, Tales of the Unexpected, Inspector Morse and Doctor Who, as well as several film roles such as Excalibur and A Passage to India, but it was his hilarious role in Keeping Up Appearances that skyrocketed his career.

Swift was best known for playing Richard Bucket — the downtrodden and long-suffering husband of snob Hyacinth Bucket — in the beloved BBC sitcom.

He spent six years playing Richard opposite Dame Patricia Routledge. The popular series ran for five years in the 1990s, with Swift appearing in 42 episodes.

Swift later appeared in sitcom The Old Guys alongside Roger Lloyd Pack, before he returned to Doctor Who for a 2007 Christmas special.

He was born in Liverpool and later studied English at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, where he met his wife. Swift was married to novelist Margaret Drabble between the years 1960 and 1975.

He had a daughter Rebecca, who died in 2017. Swift is survived by two sons –Adam, a university academic, and Joe, a garden designer.

According to his agent, the actor died at his home on Friday after a short illness.

Many fans rushed to social media to pay their respects, with one writing: “Loved this extremely talented, subtle actor. RIP the wonderful Clive Swift.”

Another added: “Clive Swift was a wonderful character actor. As adept at drama as at comedy. A sad loss.”

Spent hours as a kid listening to the name “Richard!” being shrieked in ‘Keeping Up Appearances’ and still find it just as iconic now! Saddened to hear of Clive Swift’s passing. Comedy gold 💔 R.I.P. pic.twitter.com/juP6IMiPSz

— Steven Bonaventure x (@absolutegazelle) February 1, 2019

While a third wrote: “Spent hours as a kid listening to the name “Richard!” being shrieked in Keeping Up Appearances and still find it just as iconic now! Saddened to hear of Clive Swift’s passing. Comedy gold.”