Father Ted star Jon Kenny has died at the age of 66 following a cancer battle.
The Irish actor and comedian passed away at Galway Clinic yesterday evening, his wife Margy has said.
She revealed last year that he had been undergoing treatment for cancer once again after suffering from non-Hodgkins lymphoma when he was in his 40s.
Jon, a Limerick native, first shot to fame as one half of comedy duo D’Unbelievables alongside Pat Shortt.
He also made cameos in Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted and recently had a role in Oscar-winning movie The Banshees of Inisherin.
In March, Jon opened up about when he was first diagnosed with cancer in 2000, amidst the success of D’unbelievables.
Speaking to Oliver Callan on RTE Radio One, he said: ‘It was tiring an wearing but it was fun and well I nearly killed myself.
‘I got cancer at the beginning of 2000 and I had no choice but to take a step back.
‘Over the space of two years I was on different forms of treatment.’
Father Ted star Jon Kenny (pictured in the show) has died at the age of 66 following a cancer battle
Jon Kenny pictured at the premiere of ‘Mrs. Brown’s Boys D’Movie’ at The Savoy in 2014
Jon, a Limerick native, first shot to fame as one half of comedy duo D’Unbelievables alongside Pat Shortt.
Tributes have poured in for the legendary comedian, who had been due to perform at The Schoolyard Theatre in Charleville this evening.
Taoiseach Simon Harris said Jon was a ‘gifted performer and an extremely deep thinker.’
‘Jon had the ability, that very few people possess, to make his audiences crack up laughing with a glance or a single word,’ he said.
‘Behind that seemingly effortless talent to joke, there was a gifted performer and an extremely deep thinker.
‘Jon was an interesting and thoughtful person, he had some stunning dramatic performances on stage and on screen and the country is still in stitches from the magic that was D’Unbelievables.’
One fan said: ‘Jon Kenny was an absolute icon.
‘He was a comic genius and gave years of joy to so many people.
Jon performing on stage in Dublin, Ireland in March 2003
Jon Kenny (top left) pictured during the launch of RTE’s Celebrity Jigs & Reels in 2017
Irish comedian Jon Kenny appeared in episodes of Father Ted
Jon Kenny pictured with Mary McEvoy at the Pavilion Theatre at Dun Laoghaire in Dublin
Tributes have poured in for the legendary comedian, who had been due to perform at The Schoolyard Theatre in Charleville this evening
‘He will be sorely missed.’
Another added: ‘Rest in peace Jon Kenny, a true legend of Irish comedy.
‘Crime Busters or Away in a Home will never be the same.’
This is a breaking news story- more to follow
