Friday Night Dinner, starring Tamsin Greig as Jackie and Paul Ritter as Martin.
(Picture: Handout)Actor Paul Ritter, who played Martin Goodman in Channel 4’s Friday Night Dinner, has died after suffering from a brain tumour.
In a statement released on Tuesday, his agent said that the 54-year-old actor, who also appeared in movies including Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and James Bond film Quantum of Solace, died at home with his family by his side.
“It is with great sadness we can confirm that Paul Ritter passed away last night. He died peacefully at home with his wife Polly and sons Frank and Noah by his side.
“He was 54 and had been suffering from a brain tumour,” the statement read.
Rest in peace, Paul Ritter. A fantastic British actor who brought so much laughter to the world. He'll be greatly missed 💜 pic.twitter.com/jLcUZxFgc8
— Bradley Green🎙🇬🇧 (@BradleyGreenVO) April 6, 2021
It added: “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.”
Tributes have flooded in on social media for the actor, who was nominated for an Olivier in 2006, and a Tony Award in 2009 for best performance by an actor in a featured role for his turn in The Norman Conquests.
Friday Night Dinner writer, Robert Popper, tweeted his tribute, 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.”
“So, so sad to hear this. I was such a fan of Paul Ritter he was absolutely magic, RIP,” said Bridgerton actress, Nicola Coughlan.
While fellow actor Sanjeev Kohli described him as “one of the most versatile and brilliant actors that has ever drawn breath.”
Many of his fans are taking to twitter to recall some of ‘Martin Goodman’s’ classic catchphrases.
The actor’s other TV credits included Vera, Belgravia, Cold Feet and No Offence.
