RIP David Kelly: 11 July 1929 – 12 February 2012

Irish stage and screen actor David Kelly, known for films such as Tim Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, has died aged 82.

The dapper dresser passed away after a short illness following a career on stage and screen spanning 50 years.

Dublin-born Kelly also played feckless builder Mr O’Reilly in Fawlty Towers, as well as the vicar in The Italian Job, but may well be best remembered for riding a motorbike naked in the comedy Waking Ned. He jokingly claimed he had finally become a sex symbol in the role, as well as earning a Screen Actors’ Guild nomination for the 1998 film.

In a 50-year career, Kelly’s roles ranged from the dramatic to the comedic, becoming a familiar face on British television with regular roles in Robin’s Nest, Ballykissangel and Emmerdale Farm.

In his native Ireland, he is well known for his acclaimed role of Rashers Tierney in the historical drama mini-series Strumpet City, which co-starred Peter O’Toole and Peter Ustinov.

In 2005, he received a life­time achieve­ment award at the Irish Film and Tele­vi­sion Awards.

The same year, he was seen by cinema audiences as Grandpa Joe Bucket in Burton’s adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, opposite Johnny Depp.

Kelly’s final film role was in the 2007 British fantasy film Stardust, as a deceptively nimble, high-kicking wall guard.

(Source)