Who was Henri Szeps? Details explored as ‘Mother and Son’ famed veteran dies at 81

Henri Szeps, the affable Swiss-born Australian actor whose sharp comedic timing as dentist Robert Beare made him a household name in the beloved sitcom Mother and Son, has passed away at the age of 81. Born in a wartime refugee camp in Switzerland in 1943 to Polish Holocaust survivors, he migrated to Australia at eight and later trained in electrical engineering and method acting before choosing the stage and screen over circuits.

Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2021, he spent his final years in care and, as his family gently shared, “retained his sense of wonder and joie de vivre until the end”. Though many might ask who Henri Szeps was beyond the sitcom laughs, his legacy stretches far beyond TV, spanning theatre, film, and solo performances. And yes, his death marks the final curtain on a life that loved storytelling, laughter, and lived experience in equal measure.

The life and death of Henri Szeps, beloved veteran actor

Henri Szeps, the veteran actor celebrated for his role in Mother and Son, died peacefully on 24 July 2025 at 81, following a dignified battle with Alzheimer’s. According to his family, his final decline was “largely peaceful,” and despite the disease, he “retained his sense of wonder and joie de vivre until the end”. His wife, Mary Ann, and sons Amos and Josh were by his side, recalling a man who thrilled audiences on screen and stage alike with warmth and curious energy.

Szeps first became public with Mother and Son, playing the egotistical, self‑absorbed dentist Robert Beare from 1984 to 1994. But his craft stretched far beyond that sitcom; he portrayed everyone from Gandalf in The Hobbit to Prime Minister Harold Holt in the war drama Vietnam, a role that helped launch Nicole Kidman’s career. What set him apart wasn’t just comedic flair, but dramatic depth, a stage veteran trained at Ensemble Theatre, where a green room still bears his name.

His diagnosis in 2021 was a quiet shock to fans who adored his wit and sparkle. By 2023, he moved into residential care, but even then, those close to him say his charisma never dimmed entirely. Son Josh Szeps painted a vivid picture of his father:

"I cannot imagine a father with more passion, more zest for life, more curiosity and ferocious good humour… A room was never the same after Dad had walked into it". His brother Amos added, “Dad grabbed life with both hands. Our world will be smaller without him”.

Outside his television fame, Szeps was also a one-man-show stalwart, selling out venues with introspective performances until he retired at 70, admitting his memory could no longer serve the lines. His numerous awards included the Order of Australia Medal in 2001 and accolades for his stage work, including a Helpmann for Cabaret.

Throughout his career, he chose creative integrity and family over overseas glamour. Though invited to join London’s Royal Shakespeare Company, he opted to stay in Australia, remaining committed to his home, his wife, and their two sons, Amos, a psychologist, and Josh, a broadcaster.

In the end, Mother and Son fans will remember Robert Beare, the insecure, self-centred, yet oddly endearing dentist, in equal measure to the real man behind the character. Once he hung up his character’s white coat, Szeps carried that same humanity and laughter into every role: on screen, on stage, and in life.

His passing signals not just the death of a veteran actor, but the loss of a quietly courageous performer who celebrated storytelling in all its forms.