David Kelly Dead: 'Charlie And The Chocolate Factory' Grandpa Dies At 82

Irish stage and film actor David Kelly has died. He was 82.

Best known to American audiences for his role as Grandpa Joe in the 2005 remake of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," Kelly's credits also included "Laws of Attraction," "The Jigsaw Man" and the original "Italian Job." In 1998, he earned a Screen Actor's Guild nomination for his portrayal of Michael O'Sullivan in "Waking Ned Devine," which included a rather memorable scene where Kelly rode a motorbike naked.

He received a lifetime achievement award at the 2005 Irish Film and Television Awards.

Kelly's final film was the 2007 fantasy flick "Stardust." According to the Telegraph, he passed away in the hospital after a short illness.

[via Telegraph]

Comments

[butchcliff]

08:36 AM on 02/16/2012

Acting as smooth as chocolate. Mr O'Rielly the getting beaten with the umbrella by Sybil...best memory

[Mark Scott]

05:56 PM on 02/15/2012

Looks like a really ancient Larry David in that pic...

[Karen E Nikula]

01:32 PM on 02/15/2012

Waking Ned Devine is his best role and a great movie!

[HannahaS]

01:42 PM on 02/15/2012

That's how I would have listed him. That and Fawlty Towers

[Mark Scott]

05:56 PM on 02/15/2012

And of course Robin's Nest...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJabpIcOnlg

[Adam Woehler]

09:37 AM on 02/15/2012

He will always be Michael O'Sullivan in Waking Ned Divine to me.

[skylover]

09:24 AM on 02/15/2012

Loved him in "Waking Ned Devine". RIP to a man that brought us many smiles.

[ontariogirl]

09:17 AM on 02/15/2012

I really loved his acting. I just watched Charlie and the Chocolate Factory again not that long ago. Peace be with you and your family.

[barknasty]

08:53 AM on 02/15/2012

Makes me want to climb the hill and raise a pint while "The Parting Glass" is played. God love him.

[MeinNH]

08:35 AM on 02/15/2012

I loved David Kelly in Waking Ned Devine and in Fawlty Towers...he was quite the comedian. RIP

[deucejuice]

08:23 AM on 02/15/2012

Wow he looked 82 way back then.

[Kmuzu]

01:02 AM on 02/15/2012

http://elvisinmybasement.blogspot.com/2012/02/happy-valentines-day.html ... The ways of all chocolate.

[henriette and hube]

12:30 AM on 02/15/2012

I'll never forget how cute and funny he was in Waking Ned Devine. I cracked up when he got on the back of the motorcycle naked. He was a great character actor. I'm glad he received some recogniton in his lifetime.

[Hermione1973]

08:48 PM on 02/14/2012

He always looked the quintessential kindly grandfather. "May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest..."

[logic-a-go-go]

07:53 PM on 02/14/2012

Aw. Awesome, endearing actor.

[nammy50]

07:49 PM on 02/14/2012

Wonderful in Fawlty Towers-- Mr. O'Rielly.

Delightfully talented gentleman. RIP.

[hilaritee]

12:35 AM on 02/15/2012

you just caused me to have a flashback!

[rickthaluddite]

04:32 AM on 02/15/2012

Thanks for letting us know that-- I've watched Fawlty Towers since it was first shown over here on TVO and WNED (pbs) when I was a kid in the '70s. I only know John Cleese name.

[Kathryn Lively]

07:17 PM on 02/14/2012

How sad. Loved him in Devine.