Ben Keaton, best known for his role as Father Austin Purcell in the hit sitcom Father Ted, has died at the age of 70. The actor passed away at Lincoln County Hospital on Friday, according to a death notice.
Keaton's death notice read: 'Ben will be forever greatly missed, loved and fondly remembered by his ex-wife Polly, son Waldo and daughter Daisy, brothers Des and Thom, sister Jeanette.' Tributes poured in, with Nottingham Playhouse calling him 'a wonderful actor' and a Father Ted fan account describing him as 'a regular at ComicCon events'.
Beyond his television work, Keaton was a distinguished stage performer, dedicating much of his career to The Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester. He co-founded the improv troupe South Of The River and held a leadership role at the Creative Academy. His accolades included the 1986 Perrier Comedy Award and two Best Actor awards from the Manchester Evening News, as well as a Laurence Olivier Award nomination.
In 2022, Keaton experienced a surge in online popularity after a TikTok video with fellow Father Ted cast members went viral. Reflecting on his enduring fame, he said: 'I appeared in Casualty for three years, nobody cares. I did three minutes on Father Ted and it's all people want to talk about.'
