ACTOR Clive Swift, best known for playing Hyacinth Bucket's long-suffering husband Richard in Keeping Up Appearances, has died aged 82.
Liverpool-born Swift, who spent a decade at the Royal Shakespeare Company before enjoying a lengthy career in film and TV, starred in 42 episodes of the British sitcom alongside Dame Patricia Routledge from 1990 to 1995.
The show, written by Roy Clarke, was a huge 90s hit and saw Swift's hen-pecked character suffer through various attempts by his eccentrically snobby wife at social climbing.
His many other roles included a part in Alfred Hitchcock's 1972 classic Frenzy and King Arthur's adopted father in the 1981 film Excalibur.
Clive Swift was a wonderful character actor. As adept at drama as at comedy. Diverse roles ... from Shakespeare to Hitchcock and #DoctorWho to the much harangued husband of Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced Bouquet). A sad loss.https://t.co/cbT2ZwzQHV
— Morris Bright MBE (@Morris__Bright) 1 February 2019
Clive Swift R.I.P pic.twitter.com/T53a6ACqf0
— Classic British TV (@Classicbritcom) 1 February 2019
RIP to the wonderful Clive Swift. Wherever you are I hope you’ve got clean shoes and you don’t speed in a built up area. pic.twitter.com/i1Crw0jiK2
— Derek Faye (@faye_derek) 1 February 2019
He also made a number of appearances in Doctor Who – most recently in 2007 when he starred as Mr Copper in the most-watched Christmas special ever of the iconic sci-fi series, alongside Kylie Minogue.
Off-screen, Swift co-founded The Actors Centre in central London – which supports thespians throughout their professional careers.
Swift was married to novelist Margaret Drabble between 1960 and 1975 and the pair shared three children together, one of whom – Rebecca Swift – sadly passed away from ovarian cancer in April 2017.
His son Joe, 53, is best known for appearing on Gardeners' World and other botanical television shows, while his other son Adam is a political philosopher and sociologist.
According to Swift's agent, the much-loved actor died at his home on Friday after a short illness, surrounded by his family.
