- published: 07 Jan 2011
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Paul "Gerard" Kelly (27 May 1959 – 28 October 2010) was a Scottish actor who appeared in many comedies, most notably in City Lights, Rab C Nesbitt, and Scotch and Wry. He had more serious roles, including PC David Gallagher in Juliet Bravo (1982), villain Jimmy in EastEnders (1994) and the villainous Callum Finnegan on Brookside (1997–2000). He is perhaps best known, however, for his starring role in City Lights as the hapless would-be author Willie Melvin which ran for six series, several Christmas specials and two stage tours from 1986 to 1992.
He had a small part in the 1987 critically acclaimed film Comic Strip Presents... Mr Jolly Lives Next Door.
In 1983, he was featured in "Killer", the pilot episode of crime drama series Taggart.
Between 2005 and 2007 he appeared in Ricky Gervais's comedy Extras as Ian "Bunny" Bunton.
From 2007 to 2010 he appeared regularly as Father Henderson, a camp Doctor Who-loving priest in the award-winning BBC Radio 4 comedy Fags, Mags and Bags. The role has not been re-cast, with the 2011 series referring to Father Henderson's move to another parish, noting that the new priest can never replace him.