David Kelly (11 July 1929 â€" 12 February 2012) was an Irish actor who
had regular roles in several film and television works from the 1950s
onwards. One of the most recognisable voices and faces of Irish stage
and screen, Kelly was known for his roles as Rashers Tierney in
Strumpet City, Cousin Enda in Me Mammy, the builder Mr O'Reilly in
Fawlty Towers, Albert Riddle in Robin's Nest, and Grandpa Joe in the
film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005). Another notable role
was as Michael O'Sullivan in Waking Ned.Kelly was born 11 July 1929 in
Dublin, Ireland, and educated at Dublin's Synge Street CBS Christian
Brothers school. He began acting at the age of eight at the city's
Gaiety Theatre, and trained at The Abbey School of Acting. As a backup
career, he additionally trained as a draughtsman and calligrapher, and
also learned watercolour art. He appeared onstage in the original
production of Brendan Behan's The Quare Fellow, and gained his first
major career attention in Samuel Beckett's Krapp's Last Tape at the
Dublin's Abbey Theatre in 1959. By then he had made his screen debut
in a small part in director John Pomeroy's 1958 film noir Dublin
Nightmare.
had regular roles in several film and television works from the 1950s
onwards. One of the most recognisable voices and faces of Irish stage
and screen, Kelly was known for his roles as Rashers Tierney in
Strumpet City, Cousin Enda in Me Mammy, the builder Mr O'Reilly in
Fawlty Towers, Albert Riddle in Robin's Nest, and Grandpa Joe in the
film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005). Another notable role
was as Michael O'Sullivan in Waking Ned.Kelly was born 11 July 1929 in
Dublin, Ireland, and educated at Dublin's Synge Street CBS Christian
Brothers school. He began acting at the age of eight at the city's
Gaiety Theatre, and trained at The Abbey School of Acting. As a backup
career, he additionally trained as a draughtsman and calligrapher, and
also learned watercolour art. He appeared onstage in the original
production of Brendan Behan's The Quare Fellow, and gained his first
major career attention in Samuel Beckett's Krapp's Last Tape at the
Dublin's Abbey Theatre in 1959. By then he had made his screen debut
in a small part in director John Pomeroy's 1958 film noir Dublin
Nightmare.
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