Sad news today is that veteran Irish actor David Kelly has died aged 82.

Born in Dublin, David was best known for his roles in Fawlty Towers as builder Mr O’Reilly, and as one-armed dishwasher Albert in Robin’s Nest.

However, David also enjoyed an illustrious career on the big screen, with roles in Waking Ned – in which he rode a motorbike while naked – Agent Cody Banks, Stardust and The Jigsaw Man.

He was also tipped for an Oscar nomination for his role as Grandpa Joe in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

David also had roles in Emmerdale, Glenroe and Ballykissangel.

David’s friend and fellow actor Niall Toibin said, “He was a hilarious man. He had an outlook on life that was slightly skewed and made you laugh all the time…”

And a moving tribute to David, by Irish Times correspondent Donald Clarke, reads…

Born in Goatstown, Kelly was the son of a publisher. Although tolerant of his son’s theatrical ambitions, the older Kelly manoeuvred his son into a job as a calligrapher and artist.

David continued to paint and claimed that he began wearing bowties as part of an attempt to take on the aspect of a bohemian artist.

Then somebody told him that the only people who wore such garments were architects and bookies. “So I’ve looked like an architect or a bookie all my life,” he told this writer in 2005.

Kelly is survived by his wife Laurie Morton and their two children.

Here’s a reminder of David in Fawlty Towers…

And here’s David accepting a lifetime achievement award…