Perrier winner, Father Ted actor and so much more

Tributes have been paid to comedian turned actor, writer and director Ben Keaton following his death at the age of 70.

He died at Lincoln County Hospital on Friday, a death notice in The Irish Times announced on Sunday.

It read: 'Ben will be forever greatly missed, loved and fondly remembered by his ex-wife Polly, son Waldo and daughter Daisy, brothers Des and Thom, sister Jeanette.’

Polly added on Facebook: 'So incredibly sorry to say Ben Keaton died last night. It was very sudden and we are all in shock. We had separated several years ago but we had half a life time together and infuriated and made each other cry with laughter in equal measure. He was a great dad to Waldo and Daisy and the finest Groucho and Cyrano I have ever seen. Xxxx’

Dublin-born Keaton began his career on the comedy circuit in the 1980s winning the Perrier award at the Edinburgh Fringe in 1986 for his solo show Intimate Memoirs of a Taxidermist  – before moving into leading roles in theatre, including playing Groucho Marx in Animal Crackers

He was a regular guest member with the Comedy Store Players and a founder member of  the improv group South Of The River with Jeremy Hardy and Kit Hollerbach.

His screen roles include being a regular on Casualty - where he played Spencer for 51 episodes –  and Father Ted, where he was Father Austin Purcell. 

Comic Charmian Hughes wrote on social media: ‘Shocked at the very sudden passing of wonderfully funny man and talented actor Ben Keaton.’

She recalled being on a clown workshop run by the recently-deceased Philippe Gaulier with Keaton, adding: 'I was flummoxed by the whole thing but Ben was the star, flowering before our eyes, taking the risks, sticking his neck out, as he "got it".’

Chris Lynam added: 'Can’t believe Ben Keaton just left us… I usually welcome death (best thing that can happen to anyone) but somehow this… I guess so unexpected… we were just talking last week of doing our clown workshop again soon. Fok!’

Lissa Evans, who produced Father Ted, recalled: ‘He was not only brilliant, but improvised a whole 'boring' monologue while shut in a cupboard, and greeted an antimacassar of The Sacred Heart with "Ah, it's yourself…" And I met him for the first time in 30 years, last November in Dublin, where he was as kind and funny as ever.  RIP. '  

Published: 23 Mar 2026