John Inman

John Inman as Mr Humphries

John Inman died Thursday, March 08, of complications from hepatitis A infection.

He was known around the world as the campy sales assistant Mr. Wilberforce Clayborne Humphries of Grace Brothers Department store of "Are You Being Served?" Which must be pronounced with a noticeable lilt on the last word.

"Are You Being Served?" started at the BBC in 1972 and ran through 1985. An article at Wikipedia - Are You Being Served?" states that "A US adaptation pilot episode called 'Beane's of Boston' aired on 5 May 1979 on CBS, but it didn't make it to a full series. An Australian version, called Are You Being Served?, ran for sixteen episodes from 1980 to 1981 and starred John Inman as Mr Humphries."

After BBC began offering their productions to American TV in the late 70s, viewers on this side of the pond were able to revel in the double entendres and zaniness of the denizens of Grace Brothers.

Mr. Humphries would swish from area to the other, in an effete voice, wrist as limp as aged celery. However, when he answered the phone with the words "Men's Ware," his voice rivaled that of a basso gargling pebbles.

One of the ongoing jokes was that Captain Peacock, head of menswear, would encounter a customer, and then ask the staff if anyone was free. Humphries would always reply in his unique style, "I'm free." In fact, the term became so famous that it turned into one of the catch phrases of England. John Inman said he feared he would hear it the rest of his life.

Inman had an innate ability to turn the simplest phrase into something hysterical. His tone, timing, and cadence were impeccable. And of course, he had superb material crafted specifically for this character.As shown by this wonderful exchange with Mr. Grainger,the custodian:

Mr. Grainger: "People really seldom curtsy in these days."
Mr. Humphries: "My milkman does."
Mr. Lucas: "You should stop answering the door in a tiara."
Mr. Humphries (smiling): "You've been there early, haven't you?"

Mr. Humphries' sexual orientation was ambiguous. But there was a litany of male characters he'd mention encountering in his off-hours. I really, at first, never thought of his sexuality, he was but another of those tart-tongued characters from movies and TV such as Eric Blore, Franklin Pangborne, Edward Everett Horton, or Frank Nelson. From time to time, Humphries would appear in drag, and I could only think of Milton Berle. (There was a noticeable difference: Humphries characters were that character; Berle was Berle in drag.)

"Are You Being Served" and Mr. Humphries were products of a certain time in the TV continuum. Try to duplicate it in another setting, with different performers or a dissimilar time, and failure is inevitable. In fact, in 1992, five of the characters, including Mr. Humphries returned in a sequel called "Grace and Favour" in the UK, but "Are You Being Served? Again!" in the US. There were a total of 12 episodes, and then it was gone.

(Even such an adroit performer as Lucille Ball was unable to re-create her earlier success when she returned to TV in 1986 with "Life with Lucy" which was cancelled after eight shows aired, even though thirteen had been produced. It was a devastating blow to her that she never recovered from.)

Last year, Inman celebrated a civil partnership ceremony with Ron Lynch, his partner of 35 years.

"The UK-TimesOnline" has a wonderful heart-felt comment about individuals such as John and his ilk. See "I’m free – and it’s all because of men like John Inman". (This is a text only copy of the original article. I've discovered that news articles may or may not be there have a few months. So those that I feel important are been copied to my site for archival use.)

I do so hope that John did not forget to take his Paddington Bear with him.

PAX! Erin Go Braugh!