Irish actor Gary Lydon has died at the age of 61.
Growing up in Wexford, he first came to prominence when he starred in the acclaimed Billy Roche's Wexford Trilogy of plays in the mid-1980s.
Born Gary O'Brien in London in 1964, his Irish family returned to Ireland when he was a child. He took his mother's surname for his professional career.
Lydon went on to have a busy and prolific career on stage and screen over several decades.
His many celebrated performances marked him as one of the most talented Irish actors of his generation.
He came to national prominence on television when he played counsellor Patrick Murray in The Clinic, garnering two Best Supporting actor IFTAS in 2005 and 2006.
He was known too for his performance as the Chief Superintendent in RTÉ's crime drama Love/Hate, and his performance as Garda Peadar Kearney, father to Barry Keoghan's troubled Dominic Kearney in the Oscar nominated Banshees of Inisherin was highly praised.
Mr Lydon was a highly regarded actor in the Irish arts community and continued to be a regular and popular cast member on Irish stages, and had in recent weeks appeared at Wexford Arts Centre stage to star in Of Mornington, alongside his son James, written by Billy Roche.
Mr Roche, a long-term friend and collaborator, said it was "very moving he was in my first play and my most recent play," adding that they had started out together.
"He was a talented and beautiful actor who truly was a method actor who entered right into the character," Mr Roche said, adding that his friend "was an iconic creature".
His son James Doherty O'Brien issued a statement on behalf of the family and said "the loss of our Dad is a huge shock and deep loss for us all".
"He will be sorely missed by me and my brother Seanluke, our mother Kara, his beloved partner Paula and her daughter Aoife, and all his brothers and extended family.
"Despite all his success and achievements, his greatest pride was being a father. We will miss the many ways he loved and protected us.
"We will carry all our amazing memories with him forever in our hearts," he added.
