David Kelly was 82

David Kelly – the Irish actor who played builder O'Reilly Fawlty Towers and one-armed washer-upper Albert Riddle in Robin’s Nest – has died at the age of 82.

His other credits include the film Waking Ned, for which he was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild award, and playing Charlie's granddad in the 2005 Johnny Depp remake of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

In the Seventies Kelly had a career playing eccentric Irish characters in British sitcoms inlcuidng Oh Father, On the Buses and Never Mind the Quality Feel the Width. 

But he was also a stalwart of Irish stage and screen, playing everything from Beckett to Shakespeare in his 50-year career.

He died in hospital after a short illness and is survived by his wife Laurie Morton, who is also an actor, a son and a daughter

Here he is in Fawlty Towers:

Published: 13 Feb 2012