September 18, 2026
British comedy fans continue to remember Bob Grant, the actor best known for playing the flirtatious bus conductor Jack Harper in the hugely popular television sitcom On the Buses.
Grant died on November 8, 2003, aged 71, at his home in Gloucestershire, England. Contemporary obituary reporting stated that he had struggled with depression and that his death was suicide.
His death brought an end to the life of an actor whose career had included television, film, theatre and radio, with On the Buses remaining his most recognizable role.
Bob Grant — Key Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Robert St Clair Grant |
| Known as | Bob Grant |
| Born | April 14, 1932 |
| Birthplace | Hammersmith, London, England |
| Died | November 8, 2003 |
| Age | 71 |
| Place of death | Gloucestershire, England |
| Best known for | Jack Harper in On the Buses |
| Profession | Actor and writer |
| Death | Suicide |
| Wife at time of death | Kim Benwell |
Who Was Bob Grant?
Bob Grant was a British actor and writer whose career began during the 1950s.
Born in Hammersmith, London, in 1932, Grant trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art before working in theatre and eventually moving into television and film.
He appeared in a range of stage productions before securing the role that would make him a household name.
That role was Jack Harper, the cheeky conductor in the ITV sitcom On the Buses.
Bob Grant and On the Buses
On the Buses premiered in 1969 and became one of Britain’s most successful television comedies of its era.
Grant played Jack Harper alongside Reg Varney, who portrayed bus driver Stan Butler, and Stephen Lewis, who played the famously irritable inspector Blakey.
The series ran from 1969 to 1973 and attracted millions of viewers. Its success also produced three feature films: On the Buses in 1971, Mutiny on the Buses in 1972 and Holiday on the Buses in 1973.
Grant also worked behind the scenes, co-writing numerous episodes of the television series with Stephen Lewis.
His Career Beyond Television
Although Jack Harper became Grant’s defining television character, his career extended well beyond On the Buses.
He worked extensively in theatre and radio and appeared in productions including The Winter’s Tale. He also wrote for the stage and radio and continued performing after the television series ended.
His later work included theatre productions, radio performances and appearances in comedy productions.
His final acting role was reported to have been in Funny Money at the Devonshire Park Theatre in Eastbourne in 1998.
Bob Grant’s Struggles With Depression
Behind Grant’s public success was a long struggle with depression.
The Independent reported that his mental-health difficulties were connected in part to periods when acting work became difficult to find and financial pressures increased.
In 1987, during a period without work following a theatre production, Grant disappeared from his home and traveled to Dublin. His family later learned that he had been experiencing a severe mental-health crisis.
Several years later, he survived an earlier suicide attempt involving carbon monoxide poisoning. He was subsequently treated after being found unconscious in a car in West Sussex.
Bob Grant’s Death in 2003
Grant died on November 8, 2003, in Gloucestershire.
The Independent obituary reported that he was found dead following another incident involving carbon monoxide, and later accounts identify his death as suicide.
He was 71 years old.
Because Grant had previously spoken publicly about his struggles with depression, his death was reported in the context of the serious mental-health difficulties he had experienced during his later life.
Bob Grant’s Family
Grant was married three times during his life.
His third wife, Kim Benwell, whom he married in 1971, remained his wife until his death. The couple’s wedding attracted considerable public attention because of Grant’s popularity at the height of On the Buses.
Remembering Bob Grant
For generations of British television viewers, Bob Grant remains closely associated with Jack Harper and the distinctive comedy style of On the Buses.
The program became a major part of British television history, and Grant’s performance as the mischievous conductor helped make the character one of the show’s most recognizable figures.
His career was considerably broader than that single role, however. From theatre and radio to television and film, Grant worked across several areas of British entertainment for decades.
Bob Grant Obituary and Legacy
Bob Grant died more than two decades ago, but his work continues to be remembered by viewers who grew up watching On the Buses.
His story also illustrates the contrast between a successful public career and the private difficulties he experienced away from the screen.
Grant is remembered both for the comedy that made him famous and for a life that included significant personal struggles.
His performance as Jack Harper remains his enduring television legacy, while his death in 2003 remains a tragic part of his story.