# Geoffrey Palmer RIP **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** celebrity-death\ **Created:** [November 6, 2020, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geoffrey-palmer-rip/924929 "2020-11-06T21:51:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geoffrey-palmer-rip/924929/1 "2020-11-06T21:51:27Z")
Died yesterday in UK, aged 93. Many of us probably remember him as the alternately curmudgeonly, sensible, and sentimental Lionel Hardcastle in the Britcom “As Time Goes By.” I also remember him fondly for an earlier program, “Butterfly,” and for numerous appearances in his later years in a variety of guest roles on some of the best shows on British TV. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geoffrey-palmer-rip/924929/2 "2020-11-06T22:47:40Z")
Crap. I _loved_ Lionel. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geoffrey-palmer-rip/924929/3 "2020-11-06T23:01:16Z")
As a kiwi who was a Brit-sitcom watcher from way back, I know him from _The Fall And Rise Of Reginald Perrin_, its spiritual-spin-off _Fairly Secret Army_, and _Butterflies_. Bit of a cock-up on the living front. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geoffrey-palmer-rip/924929/4 "2020-11-06T23:15:58Z")
What first comes to mind for me is how perfect he was in my all-time favorite DOCTOR WHO serial: it ain’t the flashiest role, but we need someone to show up and _immediately_ get taken seriously as the government official everyone suddenly has to spend plenty of time explaining themselves to — you know, the sci-fI equivalent of the straight man in a comedy bit — and he of course completely sells it. ---
**Author:** ![Lancia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lancia/32/17174_2.png) [@Lancia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancia)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geoffrey-palmer-rip/924929/5 "2020-11-06T23:17:07Z")
The one time I played the Celebrity Death Pool – several years ago now – I had him on my list. I absolutely adored _As Time Goes By_ and I have the entire series on DVD. RIP Lionel. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2020, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geoffrey-palmer-rip/924929/6 "2020-11-07T00:43:55Z")
Another famous actor I never would have guessed was still alive. I too have fond memories of him playing different roles (usually curmudgeons). RIP ☹ ---
**Author:** ![CardboardBoxx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardboardboxx/32/7079_2.png) [@CardboardBoxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CardboardBoxx)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2020, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geoffrey-palmer-rip/924929/7 "2020-11-07T00:47:55Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Xb82v7wh1Fw/hqdefault.jpg "Reginald Perrin anarchy sketch DVD quality") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xb82v7wh1Fw) One of my favourite TV scenes ever, (top 5 for sure) ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2020, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geoffrey-palmer-rip/924929/8 "2020-11-07T01:19:04Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > As a kiwi who was a Brit-sitcom watcher from way back, I know him from _The Fall And Rise Of Reginald Perrin_, its spiritual-spin-off _Fairly Secret Army_, and _Butterflies_. > > Bit of a cock-up on the living front. Oh, goodness, yes. He was wonderful in _Fall and Rise_; that was the first thing I ever saw him in. He was great in _Butterflies_ and _As Time Goes By_, too, of course. And another often shown by American public television stations, _Executive Stress_ (first season only–he was replaced by Peter Bowles for subsequent seasons). I wasn’t aware of _Fairly Secret Army_ and now look forward to finding it. Condolences to his family and friends; he gave a lot of people pleasure with all those great performances. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2020, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geoffrey-palmer-rip/924929/9 "2020-11-07T04:32:29Z")
“I’m a doctor, and I want my sausages!” [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJ4U5tQ6Ke8) ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2020, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geoffrey-palmer-rip/924929/10 "2020-11-07T05:12:55Z")
I remember laughing so hard at Fairly Secret Army when I watched it on PBS years ago. Now I’m kind of afraid to watch it again, in case my tastes have changed and I don’t find it funny anymore.