Acclaimed theatre and screen veteran actor Frank Kelly, best known for playing Father Jack Hackett in Irish cult comedy ‘Father Ted’, has passed away aged 77.
Kelly's first film role was as an uncredited prison officer in The Italian Job (1969), escorting Charlie Croker (Michael Caine) out of prison in the film's opening sequence.
He starred in the popular RTÉ children's programme ‘Wanderly Wagon’ alongside Eugene Lambert and Nora O'Mahoney from 1968–1982, playing a number of different characters and writing many of the scripts. It was Kelly's work on Hall's Pictorial Weekly (1970–1982) that established him as one of Ireland's most recognisable faces. He memorably portrayed councillor Parnell Mooney, a send-up of a backwoods local authority figure in rural Ireland. Kelly won a Jacob's Award in 1974 for his work on the series.
Arguably his most famous role was as foul mouthed priest Father Jack Hackett in Irish comedy ‘Father Ted’ which ran from 1995 to 1998. In a strange turn of events, Kelly’s passing comes 18 years to the day of co-star Dermot Morgan’s sudden passing in 1998.
In 1999 to 2001 Kelly starred in ‘Glenroe’ and also had a role in the film ‘Evelyn’ alongside Pierce Brosnan. He also had a role in the IFTA-winning short film ‘Yu Ming is Ainm Dom’ and in 2010 he joined the cast of popular British soap ‘Emmerdale’.
Kelly is survived by Bairbre, his wife of 51 years, and their seven children and 17 grandchildren.