Actor who made West End debut in 1960 and had lengthy television career suffers heart attack at Surrey allotment
Trevor Bannister, who played the role of ladies' man Mr Lucas in the department store comedy Are You Being Served? has died at the age of 76.
He suffered a heart attack on Thursday at his allotment in Thames Ditton, Surrey, his brother John told the BBC.
"He was a good lad, we were all very fond of him," he said, adding that the actor had been doing some repair work on his shed when he became ill.
Bannister had a lengthy career including appearances in the long-running police drama Z Cars, and more recently a stint in Last of the Summer Wine.
He also made regular appearances in the theatre and in pantomime.
In 2009, he gave a reading at the funeral of his co-star Wendy Richard, who played Miss Brahms in Are You Being Served? and later Pauline Fowler in EastEnders.
Born on 14 August 1936 in the village of Durrington, Wiltshire, Bannister enrolled at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts after two years' national service.
His first break in theatre had come when he was hired for a repertory company in Folkestone at 15, and his West End stage debut was in 1960 when he appeared in Billy Liar, with Albert Finney.
Are You Being Served? ran from 1972 until 1985, but Bannister left the show in 1980 when it was at the height of its popularity, going on to play Peter Pitt in the 1988 BBC sitcom Wyatt's Watchdogs.
He also had minor roles in Keeping Up Appearances, The Saint and The Avengers and played three different characters in Coronation Street.
Five years ago he played Sir John Tremayne in the 70th anniversary production of the Noel Gay musical, Me And My Girl, which toured the UK.
Frank Thornton, who appeared as Captain Peacock in Are You Being Served?, said he had "many, many happy memories" of Bannister. "He was a very good friend over a long time," he said.
"We often met with him and his wife ? he was recently at my 90th birthday celebrations in January and that was the last time we saw him. We shall miss him sorely."
His agent, David Daly, said: "I have known and worked with Trevor Bannister as his agent for 24 years. He has been a wonderful friend as well as a very talented client and I shall miss him greatly."
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2011/apr/16/trevor-bannister-served-lucas-dies
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