Leonard Rossiter: The Master Character Actor

Leonard Rossiter was a British actor who made a name for himself in the 1970s and 80s, with starring roles in sitcoms like Rising Damp and The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin. He was also a talented stage actor, and appeared in numerous Shakespeare plays, including Hamlet, Macbeth, and King Lear.
Rossiter was born in Liverpool in 1926, and grew up in a working-class family. He left school at the age of 14 and worked in a variety of jobs before becoming an actor. He started out in repertory theatre, and then moved to London in the early 1960s.
Rossiter's big break came in 1974, when he was cast as the lead role in the sitcom Rising Damp. The show was a huge success, and Rossiter's performance as the scheming landlord Rigsby made him a household name. He followed this up with another sitcom, The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, which ran from 1976 to 1979.
Rossiter was also a talented stage actor, and he appeared in numerous Shakespeare plays throughout his career. He had a particular affinity for the role of King Lear, and he played the character on stage and screen on several occasions.
Rossiter was a complex and often troubled man. He struggled with mental illness and addiction, and he was often difficult to work with. However, he was also a brilliant actor, and his performances were always memorable.
Rossiter died in 1984, at the age of 57. He had suffered a heart attack while performing in a stage play. His death was a tragic loss, and he is still remembered as one of the greatest British actors of his generation.