Father Ted star Ben Keaton dies aged 70: Sitcom actor passes away ‘very suddenly’ as tributes pour in from his shocked family and fans

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Father Ted actor Ben Keaton has passed away aged 70. 

The actor was known for his role as Father Austin Purcell in a 1990s comedy series and also guest-starred on popular British television dramas like Casualty, Emmerdale, and Doctors.

According to an announcement in The Irish Times on Sunday, he passed away on Friday at Lincoln County Hospital.

The tribute stated that Ben will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by his family: his ex-wife Polly, son Waldo, daughter Daisy, brothers Des and Thom, and sister Jeanette.

A talented actor known for appearances in popular TV shows like Father Ted, Emmerdale, Casualty, and The Bill, as well as films such as East is East, and stage productions including Animal Crackers, Harvey, Cyrano de Bergerac, and Hay Fever, has sadly passed away. He was also a founding member of the improv group South Of The River and a director at the Creative Academy. Details regarding the funeral will be announced at a later date.

Polly, Keaton’s former wife, announced on Facebook that Ben Keaton passed away unexpectedly last night. She said they are all shocked and deeply saddened by his sudden death.

Although we’d been apart for several years, we shared half our lives together, and our relationship was a rollercoaster of intense emotions – we both often felt incredibly angry and equally joyful, frequently laughing until we cried.

‘He was a great dad to Waldo and Daisy and the finest Groucho and Cyrano I have ever seen.’

Nottingham Playhouse shared their sadness upon learning of the death of actor Ben Keaton, who appeared in their 2008 production of Vertigo and will be dearly missed. They extend their heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.

The Father Ted fan account, FatherTedSpeak, shared news on X (formerly Twitter) about the death of actor Ben Keaton, who played Father Austin Purcell – a beloved character from a single episode of the show.

He often attended ComicCon, so lots of people probably had the chance to meet him. I’m thinking of his family, friends, and all his fans at this difficult time.

Besides his acting career, Keaton is also a writer and the creator of Brainiac Live, a live arena show based on the popular science program. It was a success, winning the Olivier Award for Best Family Show.

He was nominated for another Olivier Award and won a Perrier Award for his one-man show, Intimate Memoirs of a Taxidermist.

Keaton’s writing extended to television, where he contributed episodes to several children’s programs, including Balamory for BBC Digital, Gumtree for Channel 4, and five seasons of Hubbub for the BBC.

In a recent post on his website, the star shared that he was mainly focused on writing, directing, and teaching. However, he also emphasized his need for excitement and new experiences, saying that’s what truly made him happy.

As a lifestyle expert, I always admire when performers fully commit to their roles, and that’s exactly what happened with Keaton in 2014! He brought back his iconic Father Ted character, doing a full stand-up comedy set as Father Ted, and even hosted pub quizzes while staying completely in character. It was a brilliant and hilarious way to revisit a beloved persona!

In 2024, a popular actor from a Channel 4 show brought joy to fans by meeting up with former co-stars at Comic Con in Belfast. He was joined by Patrick McDonnell, who played the charming singer Eoin McLove, and Paddy Ward, known for his role as Bishop Jordan.

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2026-03-23 10:49