Trivia

All who knew him were shocked and devastated by his death, particularly Ronnie Barker. He was so upset he couldn't work for several days.

Father, with Judy Loe, of Kate Beckinsale.

During his short-lived career, Beckinsale was concerned with remaining fit. He played charity soccer, managed to quit smoking, and was considered athletic. His death was seen as entirely unexpected by his peers.

While his career was built on his successful comedy roles, Beckinsale had expressed a desire to turn to more serious roles as he aged. He had begun the process by accepting the role of a police officer in Stephen Frears tv drama Bloody Kids but died during production and the role was recast with actor Derrick O'Connor.

A memorial service was held for him at St. Paul's Church, Covent Garden on 19th April 1979.

Father, with Margaret Bradley, of Samantha Beckinsale.

RADA-trained British TV comedy actor. Started to act in repertory theatre in Crewe and was first glimpsed on-screen, as a police officer, in Coronation Street (1960) in 1969. He is fondly remembered for his roles in Porridge (1974) and Rising Damp (1974). Died tragically young, at just 31 years of age.

Beckinsale was known for his dry sense of humour.

In Rising Damp he had to wear a long haired wig as his hair had been kept short due to him having just finished filming Porridge.

He met and fell for Judy Loe when they were together at Crewe Repertory. They had a daughter Kate.

His second wife, actress Judy Loe, with whom he has a daughter Kate, studied drama at Nottingham Drama School which was where Richard studied at.

He and his first wife, Margaret, married as teenagers and separated 3 years later having had a daughter, Samantha, who became an actress.

When he graduated from RADA, his first wife ended their marriage and refused him access to their daughter until 1978.

His first straight role was in Last Summer for director Stephen Frears.

One of his first tv appearances was as a policeman in Coronation Street.

Richard's paternal grandmother, Mary Mitchell, was born in Burma, to a white father, Thomas Mitchell, and a Burmese (Asian) mother, Ma Ninhe.

Died whilst making the TV film Bloody Kids for Stephen Frears. The part was re-cast and the scenes re-shot. He was also simultaneously filming the sitcom "Bloomers" but only completed 5 of the 6 episodes before his sudden death. The cast all noticed that he appeared unwell during what proved to be his final recording.

Owned a Bentley saloon car.

Was offered the role of "James Herriot" in the BBC TV series, "All Creatures Great and Small" but turned it down as he was trying to reduce his heavy workload and spend more time with his family.

Often suffered severe panic attacks as an adult, brought on by a morbid fear of death, according to his wife, Judy Loe.

Was very short-sighted and used to wear spectacles and contact lenses as a student but dropped the spectacles when he became an actor. According to friends, the black glasses he wore made him look like a young Eric Morecambe(!).

Eldest daughter Samantha Beckinsale, strongly resembles her father whereas youngest daughter Kate Beckinsale more closely resembles her mother Judy Loe, (Richard's second wife).

After a very successful first professional year at Crewe Repertory Theatre, he was invited back, to play Hamlet, in an acclaimed production, at the age of just 22.