Irish actor David Kelly died 12 February 2012 after a short illness. Born 11 July 1929 in Dublin, Ireland, he earned SAG award nominations for his supporting actor role in Waking Ned Devine (1998), as well as the cast award for the same film. He also received a lifetime achievement honor at the Irish Film and Television Awards.
Kelly is recognizable as Charlie’s Grandpa Joe in the 2005 remake of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Kelly started acting when he was 8, in the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin, and he was a full-time actor for the last half-century. He recently said “I’ve been 52-53 years on stage, and yet Fawlty Towers (1975), those full 9 minutes, make me recognized anywhere in the world.”
His genre appearances include: Poetic Licence (2007), Stardust (2007), The Kovak Box (2006), The Last (2002), Stryker’s War (1985), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1982), The Light Princess (1978), Adam Adamant Lives! (1967), and Undermind (1965).
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Laurie Morton, and their two children.