Irish actor and Banshees of Inisherin star dies aged 61

Irish actor and Banshees of Inisherin star dies aged 615 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleBBCGary Lydon, pictured in 1993Actor Gary Lydon who starred in films such as Calvary, The Guard and The Banshees of Inisherin, has died aged 61.He has been described as one of the finest actors in Ireland as well as a loving father.Born Gary O'Brien in London in 1964, to Irish parents, he returned to Wexford with his family as a child and grew up there.He would later take his mother's surname for his professional career, one that lasted decades and saw him appear both on the stage and on the screen.Lydon first came to prominence after starring in Billy Roche's Wexford Trilogy of plays in the mid-1980s.Gary Lydon (left) came to prominence in Billy Roche's Wexford Trilogy of plays, Shay Gormon (centre) and Aiden Gillen (right) also starredIn a statement on Sunday on behalf of Wexford Arts Centre, its Executive Director Elizabeth Whyte said she was deeply shocked and saddened to hear of his death."Gary had honed his craft as one of the finest actors in Ireland on the Wexford Arts Centre stage in many of Billy Roche's plays. He forged a stellar career performing across Ireland and the UK," she said."Though heartbreaking, it is fitting that his final role on our stage was performed alongside his son James Doherty O'Brien."The lights in the theatre world are dimmer due to the loss of Gary, but we will cherish the memories of his performances with reverence."'Forever in our hearts'His former Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) club, St Michael's, also paid tribute on social media saying how he would play for them when his busy schedule allowed it."In subsequent years, he was a regular presence on the sideline supporting the club especially when his son James was playing," the club said."May he rest in peace."Irish broadcaster RTÉ reports that his son James Doherty O'Brien issued a...