Not to be confused with David E. Kelley, Irish actor David Kelly has died aged 82. http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0212/kellyd.html He's probably best known to modern cinema audiences for having played Charlie's grandad in Tim Burton's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and starring in Waking Ned. He was also in Stardust. A veteran of the stage, on tv he appeared in Heartbeat, Ballykissangel, In Sickness and in Health, 2.4 Children, The Irish RM and, probably most memorably, as Reilly, the useless but cheap Irish builder engaged by a tight-fisted Basil in Fawlty Towers. Arguably his greatest ever role will have been seen by few outside Ireland, that of Rashers in Strumpet City, set in the Dublin of the early 20th century. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0446303/
I've only seen him in the three films you mentioned, but in those I really enjoyed him! Rest in peace!
He'll be missed. He was one of those actors who it's always nice to see turn up in something; highly prolific and highly respected to boot.
Aw. He was such a sweet personality. I loved his portrayal of Charlie's grandfather in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". Rest in peace, Mr. Kelly.
Oh no. I liked Kelly and his work, but especially his memorable appearance as O'Reilly in Fawlty Towers. This is sad news. [yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUFViI0G1u8[/yt]
I shoulda put 'Actor' David Kelly in the title. Ah well, it'll get more views this way. As regards the Whitney Houston mention, while there's by no means any great similarity, I did think it was a slightly odd coincidence that she died on the same day as the Irish Film and Tv Awards, while he died on the day of the Grammies - both were events where the other might have expected to be rewarded.