Politics
Who was Eric Chappell and how did he die?
THE writer behind the popular British comedy Rising Damp has died aged 88.
Eric Chappell was known for his comedy talent, having written some of the biggest sitcoms of the 70s and 80s.
Eric Chappell was a British comedy writer and playwrightRex
Who was Eric Chappell?
Eric George Chappell was born in September 1933 in Grantham, Lincolnshire.
Before finding success as a playwright, Chappell worked as an auditor for the East Midlands Electricity Board for 22 years.
He had written several novels, which had been rejected by publishers, and decided to try playwriting instead.
His play The Banana Box made it onto the West End in 1973 before becoming the popular sitcom Rising Damp.
Read More on The Sun
Rising Damp, which ran from 1974 to 1978, was so successful it won the 1978 Bafta for best situational comedy.
What TV shows did he make?
Other than his most successful show Rising Damp, Chappell also wrote Home to Roost.
The 1985 sitcom ran for five years and told the story of a 40-something divorcee who’s eldest son moves in with him.
Beyond these two popular shows, Chappell wrote scripts for many sitcoms over the years.
The Squirrels (1974 – 1977)Only When I Laugh (1979 – 1982)Misfits (1981)The Bounder (1982 – 1983)Duty Free (1984 – 1986)Singles (1988 – 1991)Natural Causes (1988)Haggard (1990 – 1992)Fiddler’s Three (1991)
On top of his TV writing career, Chappell also wrote over 25 plays – some of which were turned into sitcoms.
Rising Damp was also adapted into a film in 1980, written once again by Chappell.
latest in TV
Was Eric married and did he have children?
Eric Chappell kept a quiet personal life away from the spotlight in latter years.
In a 2013 interview with Comedy, he shared how he would read his plays to his wife Muriel and she would “yawn as she read them”.
The comedy legend also leaves behind at least two children, according to an interview with Penny Black Music.
It is unknown whether he was still married at the time of his death.
How did Eric Chappell die?
The writer died on Thursday, April 21, 2022, which was confirmed by star of Home to Roost, Reece Dinsdale.
He said: “Just heard that Eric Chappell, the writer of Home To Roost, Rising Damp & many other shows died on Thursday.
“Thank you for everything you did for me, Sir… your scripts were a complete joy to play.
Read More on The Sun
“Great times! My love & deepest sympathies to his friends & family.”
No information on the cause of death has been given.
