Actor and comedian Jon Kenny, who appeared in the Mrs Brown’s Boys movie as well as Father Ted and The Banshees Of Inisherin, has died following a battle with cancer
Irish actor and comedian Jon Kenny, who was one half of the comic duo d’Unbelievables with Pat Shortt, and was known for his roles in Father Ted, Mrs Brown’s Boys D’Movie and The Banshees of Inisherin, has died at the age of 66. He was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2000 but had made a recovery, and sadly died following a recent battle with cancer. His wife Margy confirmed that the Limerick native had passed away at Galway Clinic on Friday 15 November.
In March last year, Jon revealed his cancer had returned in 2020 and he was having treatment. He said: “I’ve been very lucky. I’m sure some people would say I’ve had bad luck, but I think when you come out the other end of anything, I think I’ve had a lot of good luck as well, everything has worked for me.”
He continued: “I had a double bypass which kind of brilliantly mended me, fixed me up and got me back on the road and then, my cancer came back again about three years ago. I was diagnosed with lung cancer and they removed the lower part of my left lung. That kept me going again for another while, but it came back again now last year, so, I’m just on treatment for that at the moment.” Jon added: “But it’s good the treatment is working. It’s all going well, I’m very lucky. Some shows I’m doing is just to see how my body is going to hold up doing some travel, some work and some live performances.”
His first international TV appearance was in the iconic episode of Father Ted called A Song For Europe, in which Ted and Dougal write a song called My Lovely Horse to be entered as Ireland’s entry in a European song contest. Jon played Fred Rickwood, the compere of the competition.
He also appeared in the Roddy Doyle movie The Van, the 1998 version of Les Miserables, starring Liam Neeson, and as Cunningham in Mrs Brown’s Boys D’Movie. He also provided voices for the animated movies Wolfwalkers and Song of the Sea, and most recently appeared in the acclaimed Martin McDonagh movie The Banshees of Inisherin, alongside Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson.
Fans have been paying tribute to the comedian and actor, with one writing: “Irish Comedy Genius and incredible stage and screen actor. I used to record radio ads for d’unbelievables, himself and Pat Shortt, together were rural comedy dynamite. Sleep well John, you were one of the greats.” Another wrote: “Rest in peace Jon Kenny, a true legend of Irish comedy.”
