Frank Kelly, born Francis Kelly, (28 December 1938 — 28 February 2016), was an Irish actor best known for playing Father Jack in Father Ted.
After studying law and working as a sub-editor for several Irish newspapers, he became an actor. Early in his career, he appeared at Dublin's Eblana Theatre, acted in pantomime, and performed comedy sketches. In 1969, he appeared in an Uncredited Role in the opening sequence of The Italian Job (1969).
From 1968 to 1982, he starred in Wanderly Wagon, a kids' series. In addition to playing several roles, Kelly also wrote several scripts. He also played Parnell Mooney in Hall's Pictorial Weekly, winning him a Jacob's Award.
Kelly's best-known role came in 1995 when he was cast as the violent, decrepit, lecherous, and alcoholic Father Jack Hackett in Father Ted. While Kelly was as far from Father Jack as you could be in real life, he played the character for all three series. Following his stint on Ted, he starred in Glenroe as Maurice and in 2010, joined ''Emmerdale as Dermot Macey. Kelly left the role after five months as he missed his family too much while filming.
He died of a heart attack at the age of 77, exactly 18 years after the death of his Father Ted co-star, Dermot Morgan, who had also died of a heart attack.
Works on TV Tropes he appeared in:
Films- The Italian Job (1969) — Prison Officer (Uncredited Role)
- Rock-A-Doodle (1991) — Grand Duke's Owls
- Rat (2000) — Uncle Matt
- The Deal (2003) — John Smith
- The Irish R.M., episode "The Dispensary Doctor" (1984) — Bat Callaghan
- Remington Steele, episode "Steele Your Heart Away" (1984) — Willard Skeggs
- Screen Two, episode "O Mary This London" (1994) — Hotel Priest
- Father Ted, 25 episodes (1995-98) — Father Jack Hackett
- Lexx, episode "The Rock" (2001) — Father Pickle
- Emmerdale, 43 episodes (2010-11) — Dermot Macey
