Paul Ritter: Friday Night Dinner star dies of brain tumour at 54

The actor Paul Ritter has died of a brain tumour at the age of 54, his agent has informed the Guardian. Ritter who starred because the household patriarch Martin in Channel 4’s Friday Night Dinner alongside Tamsin Greig, Simon Bird and Tom Rosenthal died on Monday.

In a press release, his agent mentioned that the actor, who additionally appeared in quite a few movies together with Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Quantum of Solace, died at residence along with his household by his facet.

Robert Popper, the creator of the sitcom for which Ritter is finest recognized, shared his thoughts saying: “Devastated at this terribly sad news. Paul was a lovely, wonderful human being. Kind, funny, super caring and the greatest actor I ever worked with.”

In 2019, Ritter displayed his vary with a terrifying efficiency as Anatoly (*54*) within the multi-award profitable Chernobyl. Toby Whithouse, who wrote spy thriller The Game wherein Ritter starred in 2014, said: “This is terrible devastating news. Paul was a stunning actor, a lovely lovely guy. How utterly dreadful.”

Ritter was additionally a proficient stage actor, and was nominated for an Olivier award in 2006 for his efficiency in Coram Boy and for a Tony award for his 2009 starring position within the Norman Conquests.

“It is with great sadness we can confirm that Paul Ritter passed away last night,” mentioned his agent. “He died peacefully at residence along with his spouse Polly and sons Frank and Noah by his facet. He was 54 and had been affected by a brain tumour.

“Paul was an exceptionally talented actor playing an enormous variety of roles on stage and screen with extraordinary skill. He was fiercely intelligent, kind and very funny. We will miss him greatly.”

Ritter is because of seem within the Friday Night Dinner tenth anniversary retrospective, which is able to air on Channel 4 later this 12 months.