Who was Bob Monkhouse and what was his cause of death?
DURING his life Bob Monkhouse was considered television gold.
Known for his comic timings and constant jokes, the TV host enjoyed an incredible career that spanned five decades.
Who was Bob Monkhouse?
Born in Kent on June 1, 1928, Bob Monkhouse OBE was a comedian, writer, and television presenter who rose to fame during the 1950s.
Enjoying a run of successful film and TV roles, he worked alongside writing partner Denis Goodwin until 1962.
Bob was also a writer for other stars, which included international comedians who were performing in the UK and needed locally relevant material.
After a long stint hosting gameshows through the 1970s and 80s, his popularity as a stand-up rose again during the 1990s.
Read more on icons
One of his most famous jokes, which he told deadpan is: "Everybody laughed when I said I wanted to be a comedian.
"Well they're not laughing now."
What did Bob Monkhouse star in?
The comedian was one of Britain’s most popular hosts with a career that succeeded over five decades.
Bob was the first host of Family Fortunes from 1980 to 1983.
Most read in Celebrity
He also hosted The Golden Shot, Celebrity Squares and Wipeout.
But he was perhaps best known for Bob's Full House.
The bingo-style gameshow was hugely popular in the mid-80s, and was aired in a primetime slot on Saturday nights.
Was Bob Monkhouse married?
During his life, Bob was married twice.
His first wife was Elizabeth Thompson, who he wed on November 5, 1949, before divorcing in 1972.
Bob's second marriage in 1963 to Jacqueline Harding lasted until his death.
Did Bob Monkhouse have any children?
Bob had three children from his first marriage.
Sadly only his adopted daughter, Abigail, survived him.
His eldest son, Gary Alan, who had cerebral palsy passed away in 1992, aged 40.
His son Simon, a stand-up poet, then died aged 46 in 2001.
What was Bob Monkhouse's cause of death?
Bob was diagnosed with prostate cancer in September 2001, and he died from this illness at his home on December 29, 2003.
He was 75 years old.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Sadly, his widow, Jacqueline, then suffered a heart attack five years later and died in Barbados on March 28, 2008.
In 2007, with the support of his family, Bob posthumously appeared on a TV advert promoting awareness of prostate cancer for Male Cancer Awareness Week.