Gerard Kelly
Encyclopedia
Paul "Gerard" Kelly was a Scottish
actor who appeared in many comedies, most notably in City Lights
, Rab C Nesbitt, and Scotch and Wry
. He had more serious roles, including PC David Gallagher in Juliet Bravo
(1982), villain Jimmy in EastEnders
(1994) and the villainous Callum Finnegan
on Brookside
(1997–2000). He is perhaps best known, however, for his starring role in City Lights as the hapless would-be author Willie Melvin which ran for six series, several Christmas specials and two stage tours from 1986 to 1991. He had a small part in the 1987 critically acclaimed film Comic Strip Presents... Mr Jolly Lives Next Door
.
In 1983, he was featured in "Killer", the pilot episode of crime drama series Taggart
.
In 1994 he played Felix Ungar in a Scottish touring production of The Odd Couple
, relocated to modern-day Glasgow
, alongside Craig Ferguson
as Oscar Madison. He reprised the role at the 2002 Edinburgh Fringe
, opposite his former City Lights co-star Andy Gray
. Between 2005 and 2007 he appeared in Ricky Gervais
's comedy Extras as Ian "Bunny" Bunton.
In 2006 and 2007 he directed and starred in a Scottish play called Rikki and Me
, celebrating the life of comedian Rikki Fulton
, in which he played the role of Jack Milroy
.
From 2007 to 2010 he appeared regularly as Father Henderson, a camp Doctor Who
-loving priest in the award-winning BBC Radio 4
comedy Fags, Mags and Bags
. The role has not been re-cast, with the 2011 series referring to Father Henderson's move to another parish, noting that the new priest can never replace him.
Gerard played "The Narrator" in The Rocky Horror Show
in Edinburgh and Aberdeen from 21 June to 3 July 2010. He was due to revive this performance for one week at the King's Theatre, Glasgow
from 8 November till 13 November 2010.
Kelly was well known for his appearances in pantomime
at the King's Theatre, crowned the king of panto he headlined the show for 20 years. In 2008, he appeared in Cinderella, and the following year (2009/10), he starred in Aladdin; this was to be his last pantomime. Kelly was due to star in the 2010/11 production of Snow White but died on 28 October 2010 after collapsing with a brain aneurysm
, three weeks before rehearsals were due to begin.
On New Year's Eve 2010 BBC1 Scotland broadcast an hour-long tribute to the star, Gerard Kelly: A Celebration.
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
actor who appeared in many comedies, most notably in City Lights
City Lights (TV series)
City Lights is a Scottish television sitcom made by BBC Scotland and set in Glasgow. It ran from 1985 to 1991 and was written by Bob Black...
, Rab C Nesbitt, and Scotch and Wry
Scotch and Wry
Scotch and Wry was a Scottish comedy sketch show which was broadcast on BBC One Scotland and starred Rikki Fulton. After two series, in 1978 and 1979, the programme continued as a regular part of the channel's Hogmanay celebrations between 1980 and 1992...
. He had more serious roles, including PC David Gallagher in Juliet Bravo
Juliet Bravo
Juliet Bravo is a British television series, which ran on BBC1 between 1980 and 1985. The theme of the series concerned a female police inspector who took over control of a police station in the fictional town of Hartley in Lancashire.-Programme name:...
(1982), villain Jimmy in EastEnders
EastEnders
EastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
(1994) and the villainous Callum Finnegan
Callum Finnegan
Callum Finnegan is a fictional character in the British soap opera Brookside, portrayed by the late Gerard Kelly. The character made his first onscreen appearance on the 11 April 1997, as a guest star, before departing again on the 7 May the same year...
on Brookside
Brookside
Brookside is a defunct British soap opera set in Liverpool, England. The series began on the launch night of Channel 4 on 2 November 1982, and ran for 21 years until 4 November 2003...
(1997–2000). He is perhaps best known, however, for his starring role in City Lights as the hapless would-be author Willie Melvin which ran for six series, several Christmas specials and two stage tours from 1986 to 1991. He had a small part in the 1987 critically acclaimed film Comic Strip Presents... Mr Jolly Lives Next Door
Mr Jolly Lives Next Door
Mr Jolly Lives Next Door is a 1987 comedy film made for British television as part of The Comic Strip Presents... series and was originally broadcast on Channel 4.-Plot:...
.
In 1983, he was featured in "Killer", the pilot episode of crime drama series Taggart
Taggart
Taggart is a Scottish detective television programme, created by Glenn Chandler, who has written many of the episodes, and made by STV Productions for the ITV network...
.
In 1994 he played Felix Ungar in a Scottish touring production of The Odd Couple
The Odd Couple
The Odd Couple is a 1965 Broadway play by Neil Simon, followed by a successful film and television series, as well as other derivative works and spin offs, many featuring one or more of the same actors. The plot concerns two mismatched roommates, one neat and uptight, the other more easygoing and...
, relocated to modern-day Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, alongside Craig Ferguson
Craig Ferguson
Craig Ferguson is a Scottish American television host, stand-up comedian, writer, actor, director, author, and producer. He is the host of The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, an Emmy Award-nominated, Peabody Award-winning late-night talk show that airs on CBS...
as Oscar Madison. He reprised the role at the 2002 Edinburgh Fringe
Edinburgh Fringe
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the world’s largest arts festival. Established in 1947 as an alternative to the Edinburgh International Festival, it takes place annually in Scotland's capital, in the month of August...
, opposite his former City Lights co-star Andy Gray
Andy Gray (actor)
Andy Gray is a Scottish actor and comedy writer. He co-wrote and co-starred in the BBC Radio Scotland sketch show Naked Radio, and its later television counterpart Naked Video, before becoming well known as the appropriately named "Chancer", best friend and source of problems to Willie Melvin in...
. Between 2005 and 2007 he appeared in Ricky Gervais
Ricky Gervais
Ricky Dene Gervais is an English comedian, actor, director, radio presenter, producer, musician, and writer.Gervais achieved mainstream fame with his television series The Office and the subsequent series Extras, both of which he co-wrote and co-directed with friend and frequent collaborator...
's comedy Extras as Ian "Bunny" Bunton.
In 2006 and 2007 he directed and starred in a Scottish play called Rikki and Me
Rikki and Me
Rikki and Me was a stage show celebrating the life of comic actor Rikki Fulton, it starred Gerard Kelly and Tony Roper as Jack Milroy and Rikki Fulton. The show was a huge success all over theatres in Scotland and is now available on DVD....
, celebrating the life of comedian Rikki Fulton
Rikki Fulton
Robert Kerr Fulton, OBE , more commonly known as Rikki Fulton, was a Scottish comedian and actor best remembered for writing and performing in the long-running BBC Scotland sketch show, Scotch and Wry. He was also known for his appearances as one half of the double act, Francie and Josie, alongside...
, in which he played the role of Jack Milroy
Jack Milroy
Jack Milroy was a Scottish comedian . Born James Cruden in Govanhill and educated at Shawlands Academy, Milroy is noted for his partnership with comedy actor Rikki Fulton, as Francie and Josie...
.
From 2007 to 2010 he appeared regularly as Father Henderson, a camp Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
-loving priest in the award-winning BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
comedy Fags, Mags and Bags
Fags, Mags and Bags
Fags, Mags and Bags is a Scottish radio comedy broadcast on BBC Radio 4. Its first series was nominated for a Sony Radio Award.The writers, Sanjeev Kohli and Donald McLeary, received a Writers Guild Award in November 2008 for Radio Comedy of the Year....
. The role has not been re-cast, with the 2011 series referring to Father Henderson's move to another parish, noting that the new priest can never replace him.
Gerard played "The Narrator" in The Rocky Horror Show
The Rocky Horror Show
The Rocky Horror Show is a long-running British horror comedy stage musical, which opened in London on 19 June 1973. It was written by Richard O'Brien, produced and directed by Jim Sharman. It came eighth in a BBC Radio 2 listener poll of the "Nation's Number One Essential Musicals"...
in Edinburgh and Aberdeen from 21 June to 3 July 2010. He was due to revive this performance for one week at the King's Theatre, Glasgow
King's Theatre, Glasgow
The King's Theatre is located in Glasgow, Scotland. It was built for Howard & Wyndham Ltd under its chairman Baillie Michael Simons as a sister theatre of their Theatre Royal in the city and was designed by Frank Matcham, opening in 1904. The theatre is primarily a receiving house for touring...
from 8 November till 13 November 2010.
Kelly was well known for his appearances in pantomime
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
at the King's Theatre, crowned the king of panto he headlined the show for 20 years. In 2008, he appeared in Cinderella, and the following year (2009/10), he starred in Aladdin; this was to be his last pantomime. Kelly was due to star in the 2010/11 production of Snow White but died on 28 October 2010 after collapsing with a brain aneurysm
Cerebral aneurysm
A cerebral or brain aneurysm is a cerebrovascular disorder in which weakness in the wall of a cerebral artery or vein causes a localized dilation or ballooning of the blood vessel.- Signs and symptoms :...
, three weeks before rehearsals were due to begin.
On New Year's Eve 2010 BBC1 Scotland broadcast an hour-long tribute to the star, Gerard Kelly: A Celebration.