Australian comic actor Ross Higgins, most famous for his role as Ted Bullpitt in Kingswood Country, has died at the age of 85.

Higgins also starred in The Naked Vicar Show.

Family friend and former colleague Tony Sattler said he died in hospital, having been unwell for some time.

Ross Higgins and wife Nadine in 2006.

“He has been in hospital for the past few weeks,” Mr Sattler said.

Higgins is survived by his wife Nadine and four adult children.

Mr Sattler said the actor had been committed to his craft.

“He was totally committed to comedy in his early years and he had worked in radio,” he said.

Kingwood Country was a popular sitcom that screened from 1980 to 1984 on the Seven Network.

Its premise was to show and mock the bigotry of the main character, Edward Melba “Ted” Bullpitt, a white Australian, conservative, frightened, Holden Kingswood-loving putty factory worker and WWII veteran.

Its premise was to show and mock the bigotry of the main character, Edward Melba “Ted” Bullpitt, a white Australian, conservative, frightened, Holden Kingswood-loving putty factory worker and WWII veteran.

Some of the show’s catchphrases entered the Australian lexicon, notably: “Don’t ‘Dad’ me boy, I’m your father!”, “Pickle me grandmother!”, “Money on the fridge!”and “The Kingswood! You’re not taking the Kingswood!”

RIP Ross Higgins, 86
The voice of Louie The Fly!
Ted Bullpitt in KINGSWOOD COUNTRY pic.twitter.com/tshRfQZ38z

— Rhett (@dialmformovies) October 7, 2016

Higgins also voiced one of the most famous characters in TV advertising, “Louie the Fly”, the animated pest who appeared in Mortein commercials,

A Seven Network spokesperson described Higgins as “a perfectionist in everything he took on”.

“He had a brilliant understanding of comedy and a sharp sense of comedic timing.

“Audiences loved his work and appreciated the heart and warmth he brought to all his roles. We salute his career.”

-with AAP