Peter Caffrey (18 April 1949 – 1 January 2008) was an Irish actor best known for playing Padraig O'Kelly on Series 1-4 of Ballykissangel and Christy Barry on Bracken.[1] He was also known for playing the role of the Eurosong selection judge Charles Hedges in the Irish comedy Father Ted on the episode "A Song For Europe" and for voicing a popular Christmas radio advertisement for Barry's Tea in 1994.

Peter Caffrey
Born(1949-04-18)18 April 1949
Died1 January 2008(2008-01-01) (aged 58)
OccupationActor
TelevisionPadraig O'Kelly on Series 1-4 of Ballykissangel
Spouse
Brenda Banks
(m. 1980; div. 1990)

Peter Caffrey was born in Dublin on the day the Republic of Ireland Act 1948 came into effect to create the Republic of Ireland. He studied at a seminary for two years before leaving seminary to pursue an English degree at University College Dublin. He worked for a year as a primary school teacher, before becoming involved with Dublin's Project Theatre.[2] He appeared in nearly thirty television and film roles, and also had a solid theatre career in both Dublin and London.

He married a woman named Brenda Banks in 1980.[citation needed]

After moving to London in 1983, he became a familiar face on UK television,[3] with minor roles in Casualty, The Bill and Peak Practice.

After overcoming cancer of the mouth (a diagnosis he received in 1990), and despite a divorce from his wife in 1990, he achieved success in Ballykissangel.

Despite suffering a stroke in 2000 which left him paralysed on his right side, he managed to play a character with a similar affliction in Sweet Dancer in 2005 (a film which was never released).[citation needed]

He never fully recovered from the effects of his stroke, and died at the age of 58 on 1 January 2008 in Shrewsbury, Shropshire.[4] His body was returned to Ireland for cremation in Mount Jerome Cemetery, Dublin, on 8 January 2008. Caffrey was survived by three sisters, Linda, Carol, and Sheila. His brother David pre-deceased him in July 2007.[citation needed]


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