13 British Sitcom Stars Who Had Extremely Tragic Lives in Reality

They made the whole country laugh. And their own lives were often full of sorrow. A comic who died on stage while the audience laughed, thinking it was part of the act. A sitcom star selling his own tapes in a shopping centre. A much-loved face whose funeral only a handful of people attended. Behind the catchphrases and the canned laughter, these were real people carrying real heartbreak. From Hywel Bennett, Don Estelle, James Beck, Lennard Pearce and Dermot Morgan to Paul Eddington, Wendy Richard, Harry H. Corbett, Wilfrid Brambell, John Le Mesurier, Hattie Jacques, Sid James and Yootha Joyce, these are thirteen British sitcom favourites whose real lives were far sadder than the shows we loved. Every story comes from their own words, obituaries and the people who knew them, told with warmth and respect. Which story moved you the most? And which sitcom star do you miss the most? Tell us in the comments. Like and subscribe for more nostalgic stories about the faces we grew up with. Note: A documentary retrospective made for historical, educational and entertainment purposes. All accounts are attributed to published sources. This is an independent channel, not connected to the BBC, ITV or any broadcaster.