Irish actor Frank Kelly, known for ‘Father Ted,’ dies at 77

The many memories and loving tributes are painting a picture of a man who was widely loved both onscreen and off.

The actor Frank Kelly, who was best known for playing the character of Father Jack in the comedy Father Ted, has died aged 77.

Dermot Morgan’s son, Don Morgan, remarked on the coincidence in a tweet.

Friends, fans and colleagues of Kelly’s, including “Father Ted” writer Graham Linehan, expressed touching words about the actor on social media.

Brendan O’Carroll, who co-starred with Kelly in 2014 film Mrs Brown’s Boys D’Movie, wrote: ‘News of Frank Kelly’s passing just reached us in Australia.

Frank was married to his wife Bairbre for 51 years. Frank Kelly going on dad’s anniversary’.

Father Ted Crilly, Father Dougal McGuire and Mrs Doyle were shown to be generally tolerant of his drunken antics.

Frank landed his first acting role as a prison guard in the original The Italian Job in 1969.

Kelly was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease previous year, according to The Telegraph.

He remained determined to continue working despite the diagnosis.

He told the paper: “I’ve been working as an actor for over 50 years, and a shaky hand won’t stop me”.

He added that his “mobile is always on”.

Past year he was treated for skin cancer as well as other heart problems, after being given the all-clear from bowel cancer in 2011. “I’m just not that kind of person”, he said to the Irish Sun the time.