David Kelly to be honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award at Irish Film and Television Awards 2005

The Irish Film & Television Awards 2005 have announced that David Kelly will be honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s ceremony on November 5.
Mr Kelly’s film and television career spans over six decades, including his role this year as ‘Grandpa Joe’ in Tim Burton’s ‘Charlie And The Chocolate Factory’.
Kelly has been appearing on Irish screens since his theatrical debut in 1959, playing memorable characters such as the poignant Rashers Tierney in ‘Strumpet City’, the comical builder Reilly in ‘Fawlty Towers’, and the estranged husband Sylvie Dolan in Glenroe. Kelly has been no stranger to the silver screen, with memorable roles in ‘Into The West’ (1992), ‘Waking Ned’ (1998), ‘Green Fingers’ (2000), ‘Mystics’ (2002), ‘Puckoon’ (2002) and ‘Rough for Theatre I’ (BeckettOnfilm). He has been at the forefront of Irish Drama and achieved major critical success for his work.
Speaking about the honour, Kelly said: “I still marvel at the fact that I have achieved my only real goal in life - to be an actor. That a group of kind people wish to reward me for this is moving and I am grateful beyond words.”
Áine Moriarty, CEO of the Irish Film and Television Awards, said: “David Kelly has won a place in the hearts and minds of the Irish public as one of Ireland’s most respected character actors, with an outstanding career that spans the genres of comedy and drama and continues to go from strength to strength. It is a testament to David’s talent and remarkable ability that he continues to win great roles and receive national and international acclaim. David is a worthy and a most deserving recipient of this Award.”
Kelly has co-starred and worked alongside many international and Irish stars including most recently Timothy Hutton, Johnny Depp, Timothy Burton, Helena Bonham Carter, Vinnie Jones, Clive Owen, Helen Mirren, Walter Matthau, Anthony Hopkins, John Cleese, Michael Caine and Sir Laurence Olivier. Mr. Kelly has also worked with a host of Irish talent such as Milo O’Shea, Gabriel Byrne, Gerard McSorley, Maureen Toal, Joe Lynch, Jim Sheridan, Cyril Cusack, Colm Meaney and Brenda Fricker.
Kelly will be joined at the ceremony in the RDS, Dublin by a host of family, friends and his past co-stars and colleagues from the world of film and television to celebrate his Award.
(GB)