David Kelly

David Kelly worked as an Irish actor and dancer, building a long career across stage, television, and film. Born in Dublin, he began performing at the Gaiety Theatre as a child and later trained at the Abbey School of Acting. He earned early attention in a production of Samuel Beckett's Krapp's Last Tape at the Abbey Theatre in 1959. On television he became known for roles in Me Mammy, Fawlty Towers as the inept builder Mr. O'Reilly, and Robin's Nest, and played Rashers Tierney in the 1980 miniseries Strumpet City. His film work included Mike Newell's Into the West (1992), Waking Ned (1998), Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London (2004), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), The Kovak Box, and Stardust (2007), his final film. He received a Helen Hayes Award in 1991 and a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Waking Ned, and the Irish Film and Television Academy gave him a lifetime achievement award in 2005.