Friday Night Dinner star Paul Ritter has died. He was 54.
The BBC website reports that he had a brain tumour.
Ritter was a well respected actor who appeared in serious dramas as well as comedies. He was also one of the stars of the drama Chernobyl.
Friday Night Dinner celebrated its tenth anniversary this year. Ritter made his name as frequently shirtless dad Martin who was often known to exclaim "Shit on it". A retrospective is already planned for later this year.
His agent's statement said: "It is with great sadness we can confirm that Paul Ritter passed away last night. He died peacefully at home with his wife Polly and sons Frank and Noah by his side."
It added he was "an exceptionally talented actor playing an enormous variety of roles on stage and screen with extraordinary skill", describing him as "fiercely intelligent, kind and very funny....We will miss him greatly."
The comedy's creator Robert Popper tweeted: "Devastated at this terribly sad news. Paul was a lovely, wonderful human being. Kind, funny, super caring and the greatest actor I ever worked with x"
He also appeared in Quantum of Solace, Son of Rambow, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and The Eagle.
Notable appearances onstage included Coram Boy and The Norman Conquests. He was also in Art with Tim Key and Rufus Sewell.
Tributes have continued to flood in. Sanjeev Kohli tweeted:"Paul Ritter was one of the most versatile & brilliant actors that has ever drawn breath. If Paul Ritter was in something, it made it good. This is horrendous news."
Derry Girls star Nicola Coughlan tweeted: "So, so sad to hear this. I was such a fan of Paul Ritter he was absolutely magic, RIP"
Rob Delaney wrote: "Knocked it out of the PARK in Chernobyl. Watching it I consciously thought, "Oh, we have a new movie star." Between that & how funny he was in Friday Night Dinner... just unreal talent. Rest in peace, Paul Ritter."
Eddie Marsan wrote: "Just out of drama school I saw a production of 3 Sisters. A young actor playing Tuzenbach, did the monologue before the duel. I’d heard it every week at DS. But when he did it, I forgot I’d heard it before. He went on to be one of our greatest actors. RIP Paul Ritter."
Picture: C4.
Watch Paul Ritter in Friday Night Dinner below
