Tom Hopkins, best known for playing corner shop owner Christy Phelan in the Irish soap Fair City from 1998 to 2014, has died. The Dublin native passed away on Monday 26, surrounded by his family and in the care of staff at Carechoice Step Down Facility and St James's Hospital, Dublin. No cause of death has been revealed, but his family requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Alzheimer's Society of Ireland in his memory. His death was confirmed in an obituary on RIP.ie.
Career and tributes
Hopkins came to acting later in life, having previously worked in the civil service before returning to college as a mature student to study drama at Trinity College Dublin. He joined Fair City in 1998, playing the local businessman married to Renee, portrayed by Úna Crawford O'Brien. His character was involved in explosive storylines over 16 years, including an affair with publican Carol Foley (Aishling O'Neill), separation from his wife, and health struggles. Christy Phelan left the show after suffering a fatal heart attack following an earlier stroke.
Tributes flooded in on RIP.ie. One person wrote: "So sad to hear this news. Tom or Christy as we knew and loved has gone to his Eternal Rest. A lovely gentleman. My condolences to all Tom's family and extended families and friends. Rest gently with the Angels, Tom." Another added: "I am sad to see the actor who played Christy in Fair City has passed away, I am thinking of his family at this very sad time. Rest in peace Tom/Christy."
Later life and legacy
Reflecting on his casting in a 2003 interview with the Irish Independent, Hopkins recalled: "It was before my graduation. Some professional actors told me of an open audition for a supermarket ad and I went along and got the part. It went on screen in May and two weeks after that the producer of Fair City at the time called me up and asked me to audition."
Following his departure from the soap, Hopkins took the makers, RTÉ, to the Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT), where they settled for an undisclosed sum just over a year after his final scenes aired. He later appeared in the international hit show Vikings. The obituary read: "Very sadly missed by his wife, sons, daughters-in-law Lilly, Lynn, Danielle and Ine, his adored grandchildren, brother Dermot, sister Terry, brother-in-law Thomas, sisters-in-law Margaret and Frances, best friend Frank and his wife Marie, nieces, nephews, extended family, friends and neighbours."
