Henri Sheps, the actor known for playing his mother and son, Robert Bear, passed away at the age of 81.
Szeps revealed that he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s while appearing with his son on ABC in 2021, revealing that he had lived in a residential care facility for the past two years.
His son Amos confirmed his death on social media and shared a poem that his father wrote in 1973 after the birth of his eldest son.
“As many people know, my father passed away this week,” he wrote.
“What you may not know is that under the performer and Lacontur, there lived a deeply reflective man who respects the big questions: death, meaning, existence.”
Rip Henri Szeps. It feels like mothers and sons have a reputation for being a family fare, but one reason they have such a persistence is that all the characters are actually as mentally ill as always a sunny gang. Zep as Robert was a microcosm of this. pic.twitter.com/ajatpepy3o
– Tim McQueen (@mcqueentim) July 24, 2025
Born in 1943 in Lausanne, Switzerland, he spent the early days of his life in France before moving to Australia, 8 years old, with his mother and sister, to refine his parents, who had fled their homeland amid German invasions.
After studying science and electrical engineering in college, he studied drama at the Ensemble Theater in 1962, taking part in his first stage performances as a physicist.
He made his TV debut with murder in 1967, with a recurring role in Division 4, Number 96, Cop Shop, Daily Dawn, and many guest appearances.
Szeps was also known for playing Harold Holt in the Vietnamese miniseries. In George Miller’s Les Patterson, Dr. Charles Herpes saved the world and also made his recent appearance in All Saints and the 2015 miniseries Peter Allen.
He continued to perform extensively on the stage throughout his career. One show was Double Bass (1990), Sky (1992) (written by John Mist), I’m Not a Dentist (1997), Why Kids (2003), and I Want What I Say (2010).
In 2001 he was awarded the Australian Medal (OAM) Medal for his arts and service to the community.
Szeps was survived by his wife Mary Ann Severne and sons Josh and Amos.