Actor Kelly dies, aged 82

One of the most loved actors the country has ever produced, David Kelly, died yesterday evening aged 82.

His career endeared himself to every generation as it built slowly and steadily to reach international acclaim in recent years.

The older audiences saw Mr Kelly in the early days of RTÉ chatting away in the signal box with Jimmy O’Dea. Along with Maureen Potter these two actors were among the pioneers of Irish comedy sketches.

Middle aged viewers laughed with him in Fawlty Tower and remembered him as the scene-stealing Rashers Tierney in the iconic Stumpet City.

Younger adults grew up with him as Sylvie in Glenroe, the grandfather in Into the West and Michael O’Sullivan in cult success Waking Ned.

And now even the youngest children will recognise him as the twinkle-eyed grandfather in the big-budget remake of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Away from television and cinema Mr Kelly was among the most accomplished stage actors on the circuit, who worked between the Gate and the Abbey theatre following a childhood turn in The Mad Woman of Chaillot.

He was a master of the plays of Samuel Beckett and had parts in big screen versions of Irish classics such as Philedephia Here I Come.

He was nominated for a Screen Actor’s Guild Award for his performance in Waking Ned.

And in 2009 he was awarded the lifetime achievement award at the IFTA’s.

Last night tributes recognised his ability, his comic timing, his dapper dress and his gentle personality.

Mr Kelly had suffered from a short illness and is survived by his wife of more than 50 years, Laurie, his son David and daughter Miriam.