Star and fans alike are paying tribute to Paul Ritter after the Friday Night Dinner star died aged 54.
On Tuesday morning it was revealed that English actor Paul, whose many roles also included ones in Harry Potter and Vera, had passed away after battling a brain tumour.
A statement from his agent read: "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.
“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.”
Paul, who starred as Martin Goodman in all six seasons of Friday Night Dinner and as Eldred Worple in in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, made his screen debut in hit ITV drama The Bill in 1992.
He also went onto star in another hit crime for the channel nearly two decades later as he played Dr Billy Cartwright in Vera from 2011-13.
More recent roles have come in acclaimed shows No Offence and Chernobyl.
The Kent-born star also received praise for his work on stage, getting an Olivier nod for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in 2006 for his part in Coram Boy and then a Tony nomination in 2009 for The Norman Conquests.
Fans and fellow stars have rushed to pay tribute to Paul with one avid Friday Night Dinner viewer tweeting: "absolutely gutted Paul Ritter has passed, he made FND one of the best sitcoms ever! RIP."
Another posted: "Oh God, this is terrible devastating news. Paul was a stunning actor, a lovely lovely guy. How utterly dreadful."
A third reacted: "Not Paul Ritter. This is unbelievably sad. Entire family individually cried "no". Extraordinary actor - watch an episode of Friday Night Dinner then immediately watch the 1st episode of Chernobyl to see his range. No age to go."
