Kate Beckinsale has paid tribute to her father Richard, 42 years after his death.
The actress, 47, took to Instagram on Friday to share snaps of him, newspaper clippings, and an art mural of the late actor to mark the occasion.
Richard, who was known for his role as Lennie Godber in Porridge, died of a heart attack in his sleep, which was caused by coronary artery disease, aged 31 in 1979.
‘We were never the same again’: Kate Beckinsale penned an emotional tribute to her late father Richard 42 years after his tragic death in an Instagram post on Friday
Reflecting on her loss in her tribute to him, Kate wrote: ‘March 19th,1979. And we were never the same again.
‘Thank you to everyone who has kept him alive in our hearts and on our lips. And love to everyone missing a shining,special person of their own.’
Kate also stated how much she wanted to see her mother Judy Loe in that moment, as she added: ‘I wish I was with my mum today xxx’
Emotional: Reflecting on her loss in her tribute to him, Kate wrote: ‘Thank you to everyone who has kept him alive in our hearts and on our lips’
Tribute: The actress took to Instagram to share snaps of him, newspaper clippings about the actor to mark the occasion
Tragic: Richard, who was known for his role as Lennie Godber in Porridge, died aged 31 in 1979 of a heart attack in his sleep, which was caused by coronary artery disease
Kate was just five-years-old when her father died, and in 2013 she said of losing him: ‘It was a terrible loss. It’s so weird as a five-year-old to look out in the street and see people reading the paper and crying while you’re crying and your mum is crying and your granny’s crying.
‘Even though it was the worst loss that I have experienced I was able to share it with people who genuinely, even if they didn’t know him, really seemed to love him.
‘I feel not many people are in that position – to have lost somebody and also to feel like that’s something really relevant to other people.’
In his honour: Kate also shared a picture of a mural that was made of Richard
Moving; Kate also stated how much she wanted to see her mother Judy Loe (pictured together) in that moment, as she added: ‘I wish I was with my mum today xxx’
Kate’s late father Richard made his acting debut in the much-loved British soap Coronation Street in 1969, and he went onto star in the Granada sitcom The Lovers and the much-loved BBC sitcom Porridge.
On Father’s Day in 2019, Kate dismissed the notion that ‘children are resilient’ by sharing an image of her five-year-old self next to her mother on the day of her dad’s memorial service.
Taking to Instagram, the Underworld star wrote: ‘Don’t be fooled by ”children are resilient”. This is my mother and me attending the ‘celebration of life ‘ memorial service for my dad. I look fine. I was shattered, heartbroken and shocked.
Loss: Kate was just five when her father died, and in 2013 she said: ‘It’s so weird as a five-year-old to look out in the street and see people reading the paper and crying while you’re crying’
‘Every time Father’s Day comes around I remember my father with such love and longing, and I remember the deep shame, loneliness and self loathing when I was excused from aged 5 onwards from making Father’s Day cards at school.
‘I didn’t know anyone else who had lost a parent and there was no number to call to find advice on how to support grieving children .@kelliauerbachsent me her article about losing both her parents before the age of 20.
‘It’s moving and beautifully written and I really advise reading it,if Father’s Day (or Mother’s Day ) is a painful issue for you or your children.
Emotional: On Father’s Day in 2019, Kate dismissed the notion that ‘children are resilient’ by sharing an image on the day of her dad’s memorial service and saying she was ‘shattered’
‘The amount of shame children carry for having a dead parent is astonishing. Resources such as the National Alliance for Grieving Children at childrengrieve.org in the US and Winston’s wish at winstonswish.org in the UK give invaluable support to kids in this position, at a time when the rest of the family are grieving themselves.
‘Big hugs to everyone who feels like shit as this lovely holiday comes around . You may not be able to buy a card . You’re in the Dead Fathers Club that none of us wanted to join and yet here we all are. I’m glad we have each other . Love to all xx.’
Kate’s mother Judy married her stepfather Roy Battersby 18 years after her father’s death in 1997.
Porridge: Richard made his debut in Coronation Street in 1969, before going on to star in the BBC sitcom Porridge (pictured, with co-stars Ronnie Barker and Fulton Mackay)