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
Brian Murphy (actor) RAF Northwood, where he met future "The Good Life" actor Richard Briers. On leaving the RAF the two aspiring actors both performed in productions by the Dramatic Society at the Borough Polytechnic Institute, now London South Bank University. Murphy was a member of Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop (alongside Yootha Joyce), and a jobbing actor in the 1960s and early 1970s, combining his theatre work with appearances in television shows such as "The Avengers", "Z-Cars", "Callan" and "Dixon of Dock Green", before being cast in the role which would make him a household name. In "Man About the House", Murphy played