'Aneurysm' kills panto star Gerard Kelly

POPULAR Scottish actor Gerard Kelly was reported this morning to have died after he collapsed suffering a brain aneurysm.

PANTO: Gerard Kelly in Aladdin at the King's in Glasgow

The 51-year-old was rushed to hospital after falling ill yesterday at his home in west London.

It is understood he was discovered unconscious in his flat by friends after they became worried when they hadn't heard from him in days.

He was rushed to West Middlesex University Hospital yesterday evening, but is understood to have passed away soon after with friends and family beside him.

A source close to the actor said: "Gerard will be deeply missed by his friends and family, and indeed his huge fan base across his beloved Scotland and further afield. He was a private and gentle man and his family and friends would appreciate privacy during this sad and difficult time."

An aneurysm is a bulge in a blood vessel in the brain and can strike suddenly and seemingly from nowhere.

Fans on social networking website Twitter this morning described Mr Kelly, who was due to appear in a run of Snow White in Glasgow next month, as "a panto legend", with one adding: "I'm gutted. The panto won't be the same this year."

Another said: "What sad news to hear - he was a very funny guy."

Mr Kelly was born in Glasgow in May 1959 and appeared in many classic comedies, such as City Lights, Rab C Nesbitt and Scotch and Wry.

He also had more serious roles, including the infamous villain Callum Finnegan in Brookside.

He remains best known, however, for his starring role in City Lights as the would-be author Willie Melvin.

In 1994, he played Felix Ungar in a specially scripted Scottish version of The Odd Couple with Craig Ferguson and Kate Anthony. He also appeared in Ricky Gervais' comedy Extras.

In 2006 and 2007, he starred in and directed a Scottish play called Rikki and Me, celebrating the life of two of his heroes, Rikki Fulton and Jack Mulroy, in which he played Mulroy.

He was most recently in Edinburgh earlier this year playing the role of the Narrator in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, a role he was set to take on again at the King's Theatre in Glasgow in November.

One actor friend, who did not want to be named, reportedly said: "Gerry was working on some panto ideas with actor pal Andy Gray, and Andy was surprised he hadn't heard from him in a couple of days.

"As a result, another friend in London, who had keys to Gerry's flat, went round to check up on him. He was discovered behind the door, unconscious."