Gerard Kelly was one of Scotland’s best known comic actors Actor Gerard Kelly has died at the age of 51 after suffering a brain aneurysm earlier this week.
Kelly died in intensive care on Thursday evening after collapsing at his home in London on Tuesday.
He came to fame in comedy City Lights and appeared in EastEnders and Brookside as well as other TV and film parts, most recently in Extras.
He also regularly starred in pantomime and was due to appear in The Rocky Horror Show in Glasgow next month.
“Gerard will be deeply missed by his friends and family and indeed his huge fan base across his beloved Scotland and further afield”
Family statement
His family and closest friends were with him when he died at West Middlesex University Hospital. His family said he had died peacefully after a sudden illness.
Kelly was born in 1959 and appeared in a string of television roles which included Juliet Bravo, Rab C Nesbitt, Scotch and Wry and Hamish Macbeth along with his villainous portrayal of Callum Finnegan in Brookside.
He remains best known in Scotland for his starring role as hapless would-be author Willie Melvin in City Lights, but recently appeared in the Ricky Gervais comedy Extras as Bunny.
A statement issued by his family said: “Gerard will be deeply missed by his friends and family and indeed his huge fan base across his beloved Scotland and further afield.
“He was a private and gentle man and his family and friends would appreciate privacy during this sad and difficult time.”
A private service is to be held for family and closest friends and details of a memorial service are expected to be announced later.
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