Not much information
seems to be available on the private life of this star who was a
legend in his own lifetime. However, it would be completely
unthinkable to have a 'camp' theme on this website without
honouring the epitome of camp, Mr. Wilberforce Clayborne
Humphries, the menswear assistant of Grace Bros. in the immortal
sitcom, 'Are You Being Served?'
The
legend was born Frederick John Inman on the 28th June 1935 in
Preston (although some say he was born in nearby Blackpool),
Lancashire, England, UK. At 21, he joined a touring
repertory theatre company, but his first appearances are reported
to have been on Blackpool's South Pier in a play called "Freda"
when he was just thirteen years old.
John Inman made
innumerable appearances on television. He was a
well-seasoned cabaret and stage performer having starred all over
Britain (and many places abroad), with notable leading roles in
London’s West End. His West End debut was at the Cambridge
Theatre in the musical 'Ann Veronica', and leading parts followed
that in 'Salad Days', 'Let's Get Laid', and in the production of 'Charley's
Aunt' at the Adelphi, where he played ‘Lord Fancourt Babberley’.
In
1972, John's camp portrayal of the menswear assistant, Mr
Humphries, in the long-running series 'Are You Being Served', made
him a household name. He always claimed he based the
role on assistants he had known in days he served as a
window-dresser, a job undertaken both at Fox's Outfitters in
Church Street, Blackpool, and later at an Austin Reed store in
London.
Sixty-nine episodes were
filmed during ten seasons, from 1972 to 1985, and at one point the
audience figures reached 22 million. The episodes are still
popular today, with people continually asking for more and some
cable stations showing them six at a time, back to back.
There are fan clubs and appreciation societies throughout the
world, especially in Canada, the USA, Australia and New Zealand.
John also starred in an Australian version of 'Are You Being
Served'. There has been a stage version too, and a feature
film made for EMI, in which John re-created his unique role.
He was the subject of ITV’s 'This Is Your Life', and was honoured
by the Variety Club of Great Britain as their ‘BBC Television
Personality Of The Year’. Shortly after that, in 1976, he
was voted the ‘Funniest Man On Television’ by the readers of TV
Times. John appeared in three Royal Variety Performances, and
Children’s’ Variety Performances, and at different times had
entertained most members of the Royal Family.
Despite the major
successes of all his shows, and world tours, ('Fancy Free',
'Pyjama Tops', and 'My Fat Friend', to name but three), he always
returned home for pantomime each year. John astoundingly appeared
in more than forty pantomimes.
In December 2004 illness
forced John to pull out of the pantomime Dick Whittington in
London in which he was due to play Wanda the Cook. He was found to
be suffering from Hepatitis A, a disease affecting the liver which
is usually caused by eating contaminated food. He never worked
again.
John Inman died at 4am
on March 8th 2007 at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, of a
Hepatitis A related illness. He was aged 71 years. His partner of
35 years, Ron Lynch, was said to be "devastated". Their
relationship had always been kept from the public until on Xmas
Eve in 2005 they married in a Civil Ceremony at London's
Westminster Registry Office.
On news of his death,
tributes immediately poured in from all corners of the world, and
as was fitting for such a person, much time was given to him and
his career on all the day's radio and television news bulletins.
Wendy Richard, his co-star in "Are You Being Served", openly wept
on television as she paid tribute to her friend. She had often
visited him throughout his illness.
The man who made: "I'm
free!" a household saying the world over has left free behind him
roles that can never again be filled in quite the same way. John
Inman, Mr Humphries, The Dame, and a legend in his own lifetime,
has made his exit, and we are all deeply saddened.
Actor - Filmography
(2000s) (1990s) (1980s) (1970s)
Boom Boom! The Best of the Original Basil Brush Show (2001) (V)
(archive footage) .... Himself
I Love Christmas (2001) (TV) (archive footage)
100 Greatest TV Characters, The (2001) (TV) (archive footage) ....
Mr. Humphries
BBC Hall of Fame: Barbara Windsor (2000) (TV) .... Himself
Funny Turns: John Inman (1999) (TV) .... Himself
"Laughter in the House: The Story of British Sitcom" (1999)
(mini) TV Series
.... Himself/Wilberforce Clayborne Humphries
"Pantoland" (1997) (mini) TV Series .... Himself
"Grace & Favour" (1992) TV Series .... Mr. Wilberforce Clayborne
Humphries
... aka "Are You Being Served? Again!" (1992) (USA)
Best of Are You Being Served?, The (1992) (TV) .... Mrs.
Humphries/Mr. Humphries
Tall Guy, The (1989) .... Cameo appearance
"Take a Letter Mr Jones" (1981) TV Series .... Mr. Jones
"Are You Being Served?" (1980) TV Series .... Mr. Humphries
... aka "Are You Being Served in Australia?" (1980) (USA)
"Odd Man Out" (1977) TV Series .... Neville Sutcliffe
Are You Being Served? (1977) .... Mr. Humphries
... aka 'Are You Being Served?': The Movie (1977)
"Are You Being Served?" (1972) TV Series .... Mr. Wilberforce
Clayborne Humphries
... aka "Grace Brothers" (1972)
Notable TV guest appearances:
"Heroes of Comedy" (1997) playing "Himself" in episode: "Dick
Emery" 4/13/2002
"Top Ten" (2000) playing "Himself" in episode: "Camp Icons"
4/13/2002
"French and Saunders" (1987) in episode: "Phantom Millennium, The"
(episode # 5.10) 12/28/1999
"It's Only TV... But I Like It" (1999) playing "Himself" (episode
# 1.5) 7/1/1999
"Blankety Blank" (1977) playing "Himself" 1979
The
legend was born Frederick John Inman on the 28th June 1935 in
Preston (although some say he was born in nearby Blackpool),
Lancashire, England, UK. At 21, he joined a touring
repertory theatre company, but his first appearances are reported
to have been on Blackpool's South Pier in a play called "Freda"
when he was just thirteen years old.
