Richard Beckinsale, standing tall at an authoritative 5ft 11 ½ (181.6 cm), embodied a lanky, endearing physicality that defined his comedic screen presence. His height enhanced the naive, gangly charm of Lennie Godber in the prison sitcom Porridge, where he shone alongside Ronnie Barker, and the mischievous lodger Allan Moore in Rising Damp. Beckinsale's imposing yet relatable stature fueled his breakthrough roles in 1970s British TV, cementing his status as a sitcom legend before his untimely death at age 31.