Henri Szeps, Star of Mother and Son, Dies at 81

Veteran Australian actor remembered for decades of work on screen and stage

Henri Szeps, the beloved Australian actor best known for his role in the long-running ABC comedy Mother and Son, has died at 81. His family confirmed he had died after suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. 

He played Robert Beare on Mother and Son, the self-absorbed son of Ruth Cracknell’s Maggie, in the series which ran from 1984 - 1994. The accolades, for him, Cracknell, and Garry McDonald, made one of Australia's most loved and longest-running sitcoms.

The news of his death was confirmed by his son, broadcaster Josh Szeps, who described his father as "fiercely funny, loyal, sharp and generous." Even in his final illness, Henri remained intellectually and physically engaged, and he was able to remember his children and grandchildren right until the end.

Szeps was born in Switzerland in 1943 to Polish parents who had escaped from World War II. He moved to Australia as a young child, began working as an engineer, and then switched to making a career in acting. Szeps studied drama at Sydney's Ensemble Theatre, and quickly became known as a highly skilled versatile performer.

A career across television, stage, and film

While many people remember Szeps for Mother and Son, he had a long and varied career. He appeared in many TV series, including Palace of Dreams, A Country Practice, All Saints, and Blue Heelers. He also played Harold Holt in the 1987 mini-series Vietnam.

In addition to being an on-screen actor, Szeps was also a noted theatre actor and writer. He performed in the major theatre across Australia, especially well known for his solo theatre shows including I'm Not a Dentist, Wish I'd Said That, and Why Kids?, which enjoyed a warm reception from audiences and critics alike. His full-length, one-man plays with both humour and autobiographical reflection and were of such a particular format or style.

He also starred in major roles in the stage versions of The Hobbit, where he played Gandalf and Freud’s Last Session, where he played Sigmund Freud.

Szeps was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2001 for service to Australian culture, in recognition of his service to the performing arts and theatre education.

Following the announcement of the actor's death, colleagues and fans have been paying their tributes and talking about his dedication to his craft as well as his ability to find not only the comedic timing of a piece, but also the emotional heart.  His legacy is free flowing throughout a vast body of work that entertained and moved  for over fifty years.

He is survived by his wife, actor Mary Ann Severne, their sons, and four grandchildren.

Source(Image / Thumbnail): theguardian.com