Peter Caffrey (18 April 1949 – 1 January 2008) was an Irish actor best known for playing Padraig O'Kelly on Series 1-4 of Ballykissangel and Christy Barry on Bracken.[1] He was also known for playing the role of the Eurosong selection judge Charles Hedges in the Irish comedy Father Ted on the episode "A Song For Europe" and for voicing a popular Christmas radio advertisement for Barry's Tea in 1994.
Peter Caffrey | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 18 April 1949 |
| Died | 1 January 2008 (aged 58) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Television | Padraig O'Kelly on Series 1-4 of Ballykissangel |
| Spouse |
Brenda Banks
(m. 1980; div. 1990) |
Peter Caffrey was born in Dublin on the day the Republic of Ireland Act 1948 came into effect to create the Republic of Ireland. He studied at a seminary for two years before leaving seminary to pursue an English degree at University College Dublin. He worked for a year as a primary school teacher, before becoming involved with Dublin's Project Theatre.[2] He appeared in nearly thirty television and film roles, and also had a solid theatre career in both Dublin and London.
He married a woman named Brenda Banks in 1980.[citation needed]
After moving to London in 1983, he became a familiar face on UK television,[3] with minor roles in Casualty, The Bill and Peak Practice.
After overcoming cancer of the mouth (a diagnosis he received in 1990), and despite a divorce from his wife in 1990, he achieved success in Ballykissangel.
Despite suffering a stroke in 2000 which left him paralysed on his right side, he managed to play a character with a similar affliction in Sweet Dancer in 2005 (a film which was never released).[citation needed]
He never fully recovered from the effects of his stroke, and died at the age of 58 on 1 January 2008 in Shrewsbury, Shropshire.[4] His body was returned to Ireland for cremation in Mount Jerome Cemetery, Dublin, on 8 January 2008. Caffrey was survived by three sisters, Linda, Carol, and Sheila. His brother David pre-deceased him in July 2007.[citation needed]
References edit
- ^ Veteran Irish actor Peter Caffrey (58) dies - News & Gossip, Entertainment - Independent.ie[dead link]
- ^ Peter Caffrey: Padraig in 'Ballykissangel' - Obituaries, News - Independent.co.uk Archived 2008-01-05 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ [http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0101/caffreyp.html RTÉ News: Actor Peter Caffrey dies at 58
- ^ Death notice, page 29, The Irish Times, 8 January 2008