Richard Beckinsale

Richard Beckinsale was an English actor who portrayed Leonard Arthur Godber on Porridge from 1974 to 1977, and then in the spin-off series Going Straight in 1978. He later starred in the Porridge movie in 1979, although died shortly after finishing filming at the age of 31.

His death devastated the cast of Porridge, and is often cited as being the reason why a second series of Going Straight wasn't made, as Ronnie Barker especially didn't want to continue without him.

In the 2003 docudrama Life Beyond the Box: Norman Stanley Fletcher which saw Barker briefly reprise his role of Norman Stanley Fletcher for the final time, the decision was made not to kill Godber off-screen, but rather claim that he was late to appear during filming in the story.