British acting veteran Geoffrey Palmer has died at the age of 93.
Palmer was notable for his appearances in The Fall And Rise Of Reginald Perrin, As Time Goes By, and Butterflies.
His other credits include Fawlty Towers, Dr Who and the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies.
Geoffrey Palmer in 1990. Pic: ITV/Shutterstock
Palmer was made an OBE in 2004 for his services to drama.
In a statement released on Friday, the actor’s agent said: “We regret to sadly announce that the actor Geoffrey Palmer died peacefully at home yesterday aged 93.”
Tributes have been posted to social media by those who knew Palmer.
Comedian Eddie Izzard tweeted: “Very sad to hear that Geoffrey Palmer has left us. I was very excited to meet him once and then had the honour to act with him in the film Lost Christmas. His work will stay with us and through that he can live on forever. Good work Sir. Rest in peace.”
Broadcaster Gyles Brandreth said: “RIP Geoffrey Palmer – such a wonderful actor, such a lovely guy. Brilliant at his craft & just the best company: wickedly funny… he did everything he did so well. Thanks for all the happy memories Geoffrey: we’ll cherish them as time goes by.”
Margaret Cabourn-Smith, who appeared alongside Geoffrey Palmer in The Maltby Collection, tweeted: “Highlight of my life, playing Geoffrey Palmer’s girlfriend in a David Nobbs scripted series. Watching the 2 of them egging each other on to have an old school pint at lunchtime was a real old school thrill. Sad we have to live in a world without either of them now.”
Palmer was perhaps best known for his role as Lionel Hardcastle in the sitcom As Times Goes By from 1992 to 2005.
He starred opposite Dame Judi Dench, with the duo playing a reconnected pair of former lovers who got married later in life.
Speaking in 2018 while presenting him with the Oldie Of The Year title at the awards for The Oldie magazine, Dame Judi said: “I wish wish wish that this was the awards for ‘most promising newcomer’ or maybe even ‘the naughtiest man I ever had the pleasure to work with’, but it’s not.
“I’m going to quote Bernard Shaw as he said about Ellen Terry ‘she never seemed old to me’. Well, nor you to me.”
Palmer and Dame Judi also featured together in the 1997 James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies.
He was also known for playing sausage loving Dr Price in Fawlty Towers.
