Television writer Eric Chappell – who created Rising Damp and Home To Roost – has died at the age of 88, it has been confirmed.
Eric died earlier this week on Thursday (April 21).
Former Emmerdale actor Reece Dinsdale shared the news on Twitter, writing: “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.
“Great times! My love & deepest sympathies to his friends and family.”
Rising Damp aired on ITV between 1974 and 1978 for four series.
(Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
It was adapted from his stage show The Banana Box, which hit the West End in the early 1970s.
And it later became a film, released in 1980, which starred Leonard Rossiter, Frances de la Tour and Don Warrington, among other names.
Eric was born in Grantham, Lincolnshire and worked as an auditor for the East Midlands Electricity Board for 22 years, before moving into writing.
His writing even ended up in New York, when The Banana Box had a brief run at the Hudson Guild Theatre in the city in 1979.
Eric went on to write for shows including The Squirrels, Duty Free, Fiddlers Three and Haggard.
Following Reece’s initial tweet, others left tributes too.
Author Robert Harris said: “Our fathers worked together at a print factory in Grantham and used to swap stories about their sons. I loved Rising Damp. ‘Where’ve you been?’ ‘To see Doctor Zhivago.’ ‘Oh [pause, lowers voice] What did he say?’ He always sounded a really delightful man. RIP.”
Someone else said: “Sad news Reece. It must be a very different and unique relationship between writer and actor.”
Another tweeted: “Absolutely gutted. I struck up correspondence with Eric and he was an absolute gentleman. After seeing what a Rising Damp fan I was, I received a package from him in the post: one of his original Rising Damp scripts, duly signed by the great man. What a legacy he leaves behind.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
