Comedian Brendan Grace, 68, who is pictured last October in Dublin with his wife Eileen, had been battling lung cancer
Tributes were paid to Father Ted star Brendan Grace today following his death at the age of 68 after a ‘mighty’ battle with lung cancer.
The comedian and singer, who played evil Father Fintan Stack in the 90s Channel 4 sitcom and was known for his character ‘Bottler’, had been in hospital receiving treatment for pneumonia when he was diagnosed with the cancer.
Dublin-born Grace – who had four children and lived in West Palm Beach, Florida, with his wife Eileen – passed away in the early hours of this morning.
Among those to pay tribute was comedian Brendan O’Carroll from Mrs Brown’s Boys, who said: ‘So sad at the passing of a great comedy legend, husband and father Brendan Grace.
‘He opened doors for so many of us and leaves a legacy of love and laughter that will echo through this land and we will all mourn his passing. Rest peacefully Bottler, you’ve earned it.’
Family friend Ciarán Ó Raghallaigh added: ‘He fought with all his might and had family close by all the way to the end, laughing and reminiscing, but Brendan Grace finally succumbed this morning. Rest in Peace Bottler.’
Grace played evil Father Fintan Stack in the classic 1990s Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted
Grace made his name on the stage with characters such as the cheeky schoolboy Bottler
Hundreds of fans paid tribute to Grace, who made his name on the stage with characters such as the cheeky boy Bottler in his school cap, blazer and shorts.
Lorraine Hales tweeted: ‘So very saddened to hear the news that Brendan Grace has passed. A childhood comedic legend that we brought to our own children.’
Another fan wrote: ‘So sorry to hear that Brendan Grace lost his battle with cancer. My sympathies to his family, friends and all whom mourn his passing. Rest in peace. Your job is done. Thank you for the entertainment and fun.’
It was revealed last week that Grace had been fighting for his life in hospital after being diagnosed with lung cancer.
Grace, who was in hospital in Ireland where he was receiving treatment, had faced multiple major health battles in recent years.
This included when he was diagnosed with diabetes in 2009, eventually losing two of his toes as a result of a gangrene caused by the condition.
Then in 2015 he had a stroke followed by a bad fall, saying that it has left him often looking like he was under the influence.
Grace spoke about the impact of his health problems in an RTE documentary last year, but his troubles had not stopped him touring until now.
Speaking about his wife of more than 45 years during the programme last year, called ‘Brendan Grace: Funny Man’, he said: ‘My very best friend is Eileen.
‘There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her and there’s nothing she wouldn’t do for me, and that’s how it’s been for the past 45 years. Doing nothing for each other.’
Grace (right, pictured last October), who had been in hospital in Ireland and was remaining there for treatment, has faced multiple major health battles in recent years
Grace made his name on the stage with characters such as the cheeky schoolboy Bottler.
He also wrote comedy versions of songs, including a bilingual version of Tom Jones’s Delilah which included the famed line ‘so before they come to bris down the doras’.
But he really shot to fame thanks to his role as Father Stack in Father Ted in ‘New Jack City’, the ninth episode of series two of the comedy in 1996.
Father Stack was an obnoxious and rude priest who was sent to the parochial house as Father Jack’s replacement when the latter contracted ‘Hairy Hands Syndrome’.
Grace and his wife had four children – Amanda, 43, who lives in Ireland, Melanie, 40 and Bradley, 37, who live in Boston, and Brendan Patrick, 34, who is in New York.
Father Ted star Pat Laffan (left), who played milkman Pat Mustard, died aged 79 in March, while Frank Kelly (right), who played the foul-mouthed Father Jack, died in February 2016 aged 77
He also had three grandsons, with Brendan Patrick having Aidan, ten, and Melanie having two sons, James, 11, and Patrick, nine.
The cancer diagnosis came just four months after the death of Grace’s fellow Father Ted star Pat Laffan aged 79 in March.
Laffan had originally auditioned for the role of Father Stack, but this was given to Grace – and Laffan was instead cast as milkman Pat Mustard.
And February 2016 saw the death of Frank Kelly, the actor who played the foul-mouthed, alcoholic Father Jack, aged 77.
Dermot Morgan, who played Father Ted, died in March 1998 aged 45 after suffering a heart attack in London just one day after recording the last episode of the show.