Leonard Rossiter established himself as a distinguished character actor across theatre, film and television, built on decades of repertory work and acclaimed performances in classic and contemporary plays. He achieved his greatest prominence through two iconic television comedies: the lecherous, penny-pinching landlord Rupert Rigsby in Rising Damp (1974–1978), and the title character of The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin (1976–1979). He collapsed from heart failure at 57 while preparing to perform in Joe Orton's play Loot, at the height of a career that never slowed down.