Stephen Lewis, best known for playing Blakey in the popular 1970s sitcom On The Buses, has died aged 88.

The actor was also well known for playing Smiler in Last Of The Summer Wine, and for roles in many other sitcoms, such as Harry in Oh Doctor Beeching!.

Lewis died "quite peacefully" in a London nursing home at 1:50am on Wednesday morning, his family announced today.

His nephew Peter said his uncle's health had gradually deteriorated in recent years but that he had kept his spirits up right until the end: "He had terrible arthritis in one knee which really badly affected him, and many years ago he had prostate cancer - and whether that had come back we don't know."

The manager of the Cambridge Nursing Home added: "He still had his sense of humour, very much so. He was very resilient until the last."

Stephen Lewis's sister, Connie, was a resident in the same nursing home, having moved in with her brother at the same time. Peter commented: "They looked after each other."

Lewis was born in East London in 1926 and started in showbusiness at the Theatre Royal Stratford East. In was in the role of Inspector Cyril "Blakey" Blake that he found mainstream fame, with his character constantly clashing with central character Stan Butlery across seven series of On The Buses. He also played the character in three linked films and his own spin-off sitcom, Don't Drink The Water.

Inspector Blake's regular refrain of "I 'ate you, Butler!" quickly became a catchphrase for the actor. Rashid Ebrahimkhan, the manager of the nursing home, revealed he was very happy to repeat it whenever asked.

Lewis also made a catchphrase of sorts of his Last Of The Summer Wine character, Smiler's, somewhat gormless moan. He appeared in the long-running sitcom from 1988 until 2007. He also made regular appearances in character on Saturday night entertainment show Noel's House Party throughout the 1990s, such was his popularity.

In his long career, Lewis also wrote Sparrers Can't Sing for Littlewood's Theatre Workshop, a show that gave Barbara Windsor one of her most notable early roles.

Stephen Lewis's niece Rebecca posted a recent photo of her uncle on Twitter.

Lewis's funeral will take place on Tuesday 25th August at Our Lady Of Lourdes Church in Wanstead.