I was surprised and saddened to hear George Sewell had died a few days ago.
Speaking to my mother today she was similarly surprised by the news – there is nothing on the BBC News website. This is in contrast to their wall to wall wailing that accompanied the recent death of an effeminate man who is largely remembered for playing an effeminate man.
Mention John Inman and you will recall Mr Humphries and er, well, Mr Humphries.
George Sewell was such a ubiquitous figure on our TV screens that your memory of him is likely to be determined by your age. You may remember him as Det. Insp. Brogan in “Z Cars” or Mendel in “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy” or in many of the other 76 film and TV projects he appeared.
For me George Sewell was Col. Alec Freeman, Ed Straker’s right hand man in UFO – a trusty colleague who could also get tasty if required.
Whenever asked to name my favourite films I usually mention “The Quiller Memorandum”, with George Sewell. It is a testament to the great man’s acting career, that I fondly recall his performance in a film in which he didn’t appear!
You may have been one of Britain’s most durable and popular actors, but alas you didn’t have a 35 year old catchphrase to repeat ad nauseum, nor a funny walk, so we hardly noticed you have gone. RIP.