Veteran actor Gerald Harper, best known for his leading roles in Hadleigh and Adam Adamant Lives!, has passed away at the age of 96. CDM Talent Agency confirmed the news, expressing sorrow at the loss of a “valued client” who had retired to Spain.

Harper was beloved by British TV audiences in the 60s and 70s, particularly for his portrayal of suave aristocrat James Hadleigh, a character who lived in a grand estate while managing a local newspaper. He once recalled that ITV initially doubted the show’s potential, but it quickly became a hit, granting him celebrity status and the luxury of living “like a lord” thanks to a country estate lent to him by the network.

His personal life drew attention too, especially his headline-grabbing relationship with Coupling star Sarah Alexander. In 1996, when Harper was 68 and Alexander just 25, the pair were frequently spotted in public sharing affectionate displays. Despite an age gap wider than that between Harper and his own daughter, they moved in together in Notting Hill. Friends said Harper was “devastated” when Alexander left him in 2002 for Amandaland star Peter Serafinowicz.

Before Alexander, Harper was twice married – first to actress Jane Downs, with whom he had a daughter, and later to Pan Am stewardess Carla Rabaiotti, with whom he shared a son.

Harper later returned to his theatrical roots, starring in classical productions including Othello, Much Ado About Nothing, and a Broadway run with the Old Vic. Even in later life, Harper was unstoppable – on the cusp of 75, he flew across the Masai Mara in a light aircraft and went horse riding through Kenya’s iconic plains. A plane crash on the return leg did little to dull his adventurous spirit.

Tributes are pouring in across social media for the much-loved actor, whose career spanned over five decades.