Comic actor Gorden Kaye, best known for playing the long-suffering cafe owner Rene Artois in 'Allo 'Allo, has died at the age of 75
Actor Gorden Kaye, best known for his role in the long-running sitcom 'Allo 'Allo!, has died aged 75.
Gorden played reluctant resister and cafe owner Rene Artois in the show, which was set in Nazi-occupied France during the Second World War.
The star’s agent confirmed he died on Monday, but made no further comment.
The show ran on BBC1 from 1982-1991 and remains one of Britain’s best-loved sitcoms. As well, it was a massive international success, screening in more than 50 countries. Despite its subject matter, it was even eventually screened in Germany.
As Rene, Gorden risked his neck to aid the resistance and stay out of trouble with the Nazis, with Carmen Silvera as his wife Edith, Richard Gibson as Gestapo officer Herr Flick and Officer Crabtree (Arthur Bostrom), whose mangled vowels led to the show's regular... “Good moaning.”
Rene usually gave a running commentary of the farcical plot developments direct to camera.
A long-running joke had Rene hiding a painting, The Fallen Madonna With The Big Boobies, inside a garlic sausage.
Co-star Vicki Michelle tweeted about his international popularity.
He also starred in Coronation Street, playing Elsie Tanner’s nephew Bernard Butler on the soap from 1969 to 1970.
His last acting credit came in the BBC sketch show Revolver in 2004.
