Brian Murphy (actor) Murphy reprised his role in feature films of both sitcoms. Joyce died in 1980, and "George and Mildred" was cancelled. Another sitcom was created for Murphy with him in the title role in "The Incredible Mr. Tanner" along with "Man About The House" and "George and Mildred" co-star Roy Kinnear, but the show failed to gain popularity. Murphy has continued to appear regularly on television, most notably as "Alvin Smedley" in "Last of the Summer Wine" from 2003 to 2010, and also with roles in "On Your Way, Riley" (1985) as Arthur Lucan, "Lame Ducks" (as a private investigator); "The
Yootha Joyce this was to be her last work. Amidst growing concern over her health, she was admitted to hospital in the summer of 1980. Joyce died in hospital of liver failure four days after her 53rd birthday on 24 August 1980. Her co-star and good friend Brian Murphy was at her bedside. She was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium. At the inquest into her death, it was revealed that she had been drinking upwards of half a bottle of brandy a day for ten years, and that she had, in the words of her lawyer Mario Uziell-Hamilton, become a victim of