THE actor and musician Chris Curran has died in Dublin. Colleagues yesterday paid tribute to his versatility as an actor, singer and pianist. A native of Cork, he began his career in that city's Loft.
He joined the RTE Repertory players in 1953. While there, he played Peer Gynt in a prestigious production directed by Sir Tyrone Guthrie.
He appeared in many seasons of the summer variety show at the Olympia Theatre, Jack Cruise's Holiday Hayride. A friend and former colleague in the RTE Rep, Brendan Cauldwell, said yesterday Chris was vocally very versatile and had a gift for dialects. Actor Rosaleen Linehan recalled a memorable impersonation of Jimmy Durante.
He was a stalwart of the cast in Jurys Cabaret for many years. With fellow actor Frank Kelly, he sold Batchelors beans for 20 years as Barney and Beaney.
His most recent television appearance was with Frank Kelly in an episode of Father Ted, where he played a drunken priest from a neighbouring island.
He leaves a wife, Josephine, two daughters, Judy and Jackie, five grandchildren and a sister.