Tony De Meur, the comedian and musician known on stage as Ronnie Golden, has died at the age of 78. He was best known for appearing in The Young Ones alongside Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson, and for founding the band The Fabulous Poodles.
His partner, film producer Grace Carley, said he passed away while she was out walking the dog. In a statement, she explained: “Without any fuss or bother, he simply slipped away yesterday afternoon while I was walking the dog. Never even fell off his perch, so to speak. I know it will be an enormous shock, as it was to me, but I am consoled by his complete lack of pain or suffering.”
Career highlights and stage roles
De Meur founded The Fabulous Poodles in 1975, and the band appeared on The Old Grey Whistle Test. He later moved into stand-up comedy, appearing in The Comic Strip and The Young Ones, in which he played a version of Buddy Holly hanging upside-down from a parachute.
He also appeared in Spitting Image, Pushing Up Daisies and The Lenny Henry Show.
Tributes from fellow comedians
Tributes have flooded in online. Musical comedian Steve Gribbin wrote: “Such sad news about the death of comedy legend, very funny act, excellent musician and all-round good fella Tony De Meur aka Ronnie Golden.
“Every year I would see him at the Comedians' Christmas Party; my eyes would always light up...he was such a brilliant raconteur and he loved his music with a rare and incandescent passion… He was a very funny man, and a lovely human being. My heart goes out to Grace and all his family.”
Comedian Charmian Hughes wrote: “Tony has been in my performing world for as long as I’ve been doing it - but long before that I saw truly Fabulous Poodles at St Andrews University… [We] shared so many bills and a true comedy friend. His domestic bliss with you was beautiful to behold and our hearts and love go out to you.”
Grace has invited family and friends to share their own memories of Ronnie.
