Actress Dawn French has paid tribute to the late John Bluthal, her co-star in The Vicar of Dibley, who played Frank Pickle in the popular TV series.
"Tons of happy laughs remembered today," the actress and comedian wrote on Twitter. "Cheeky, naughty, hilarious. Bye darlin' Bluey."
"We’re sad to announce our wonderful client John Bluthal has passed away," Bluthal's agency, The Artist’s Partnership, posted.
The actor was born in Poland in 1929 and after years spent in Australia he moved to England in 1956. His first role was as Sid James in Citizen James. He also appeared in The Saint, the TV series starring Roger Moore, based on novels by Leslie Charteris, A Hard Day's Night, Labyrinth, and The Fifth Element.
"Our thoughts are with his family at this time. John provided us all with years of laughter and entertainment. We will miss John hugely."
Associated particularly with comic roles, Bluthal was hugely popular in the late sixties and early seventies as star of the series Never Mind the Quality, Feel the Width.
