Sitcom star dies of cancer

FRIENDS and colleagues were in mourning today for the star of the BBC sitcom 2 Point 4 Children Gary Olsen, who has died of cancer at the age of 42.

The BBC said Olsen, who played the suburban father in the hit series, died in Australia on Tuesday.

It emerged he had been diagnosed with "inoperable" cancer 10 months ago.

Olsen was hugely popular as self-employed plumber Ben Porter in the sitcom.

The series, in which he starred alongside Belinda Lang as his wife, Bill, began in 1991 and was into its ninth series.

BBC1 controller Peter Salmon paid tribute to the actor, whose career ranged across films, theatre and television.

"Gary was a lively, lovely man and an actor who brought pleasure to millions of viewers with his central role in 2 Point 4 Children," he said.

It is believed Olsen was in Australia, where the disease was also diagnosed, as his wife is Australian.

A BBC spokesman added that colleagues were "stunned" by Olsen's death.