Comedian Jimmy Cricket has died aged 80 following a short illness. The Northern Irish stand-up passed away on Monday morning after spending his final days “surrounded by his family, love, laughter and songs”, according to a family statement.
Family tribute
Posting on his social media pages, the statement read: “Jimmy brought so much laughter and happiness to countless audiences in his career over the years. Whether on stage, screen or radio, or if you met him in person as well. But that was nothing to the happiness he gave to his family. A devoted husband to May for fifty two years. A wonderful dad to his four children and very silly grandad indeed to his four grandchildren.”
The statement praised Cricket for being the family’s “greatest champion” and noted he “loved us all loudly”. It continued: “He also just loved people and he absolutely loved being a stand-up comedian. What a life he lived. Forever our clown, he was cracking jokes to the wonderful NHS staff and to us all, right until the end. His courage, dignity and positivity through all he endured was inspirational. A force for joy, we are just all very sad that the world is a far less sillier place today.”
Career and health
The Cookstown-born comic was a familiar face on television variety shows in the 1980s. He had previously posted on his website that he was taking a “little sabbatical for health reasons” and had started treatment, adding that he would “catch up” with fans at a string of shows in autumn 2026.
