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The distinctive and beguiling Irish actor David Kelly, who has died aged 82, was as familiar a face in British television sitcoms as he was on the stage in Dublin, where he was particularly associated with the Gate theatre. But he was perhaps best known in recent years for playing Grandpa Joe in Tim Burton's movie adaptation of Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), an engaging performance that was honoured with a lifetime achievement award from the Irish Film and Television Academy; Johnny Depp, who played Willy Wonka, paid a touching tribute on a video link from Hollywood to Dublin.

Kelly was a tall and flamboyant figure who was often cast as a comic, eccentric Irishman, notably as Albert Riddle, an incompetent, one-armed dish-washer in the late 1970s British sitcom Robin's Nest; he...

David Kelly -- the Irish actor who played Grandpa Joe Bucket in the 2005 Tim Burton remake of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" -- has died.Kelly -- also famous for his naked motorcycle ride in the 1998 film "Waking Ned Devine" -- died after a short illness.Kelly's list of film credits also includes "The Italian Job" in 1969, "Into The West,"  "Laws of Attraction," "Stardust," and "Agent Cody Banks 2" (classic).He was married to actress Laurie Morton and had two children.