Irish actor Pat Laffan has passed away

Laffan was a well-known feature in the Irish theatre scene, but most audiences today will know him from his work on 'Father Ted' and 'The Snapper'.

Irish actor Pat Laffan has passed away at the age of 79.

A member of the Abbey Theatre Company in the '60s and director of the Peacock Theatre in throughout most of the '70s, Laffan was perhaps best known with modern audiences in the role of George Burgess in Alan Parker's adaptation of 'The Snapper', and as Pat Mustard in 'Father Ted'.

By all accounts, Laffan had a truly diverse career. From Stanley Kubrick's 'Barry Lyndon' to Steven Spielberg's 'War Horse', the Irish actor was known his extensive character work as well as his distinctive voice.

Confirming the news, Laffan's representatives at the Lisa Richards Agency said that "Pat was one of the very first clients of the agency but much more than that, he was a close friend, a mentor and a hugely important supporter of the company’s founders Lisa and Richard Cook and for many of the staff of the agency who had the pleasure to represent and work with him over the last almost thirty years."

"All here will remember him first and foremost as our friend and mentor and we will miss him terribly. We send our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends," the statement concludes.