Biographie

When Hill died in April 1992, his estate was worth an estimated £10 million. The only will Hill created left his estate to his parents, who had died years before. Next in line were his brother and sister, neither of whom he had a close relationship with, but like his parents are also dead. As a result, Hill's estate was divided among his seven nieces and nephews.

Despite his wealth and success, he never owned a car, did his own shopping, lived in a two room apartment, but never used the second floor. According to one of his obituaries, he once refused to repair the leaky roof in his mother's home because it was "too expensive".

Before entering show business he was a milkman in Eastleigh, Southampton.

Following a non-fatal heart attack in February 1992, Hill had declined cardiac bypass surgery and was later diagnosed with kidney failure due to obesity throughout his adult life. Hill died of a coronary thrombosis (blood clot in coronary artery) which caused a subsequent myocardial infarction (heart attack) alone in his apartment while seated in his pajamas watching television. His body was discovered two days later by his producer, Dennis Kirkland, who was forced to climb through an open window of the locked apartment after being unable to reach Hill for several days. A large box, in which Hill had unceremoniously placed the awards and honors he had earned throughout his career, was later observed.

After complaints that his television comedy sketches were too sexual, he began casting children to appear on his shows. But instead of hiring professional child actors, he hired the children of the television crew, stating that their laughing to his sight gags were genuine.

[When asked to comment on rumours that he had sexual affairs with women who appeared on his shows]: I never yell, I never tell, but I'm grateful as hell.

Girls are like pianos. When they're not upright, they're grand.

Girls are like buses: If you miss one, don't worry - another one will be along in a few minutes. And at night there aren't as many, but they're faster.

Why get married? That's like burning down the house just to have a bit of toast. And why should I buy a book when there's such a good library in town!

That's what show business is, sincere insincerity.