VENTRILOQUIST Keith Harris, famous for his act with his puppet duck Orville, has died today aged 67, his agent said.
Robert C Kelly said Harris, whom he described as a “thoroughly decent man”, was first diagnosed with cancer in 2013 and became ill again in January.
He said: “I spoke to Keith most days, whether we had business to do or not. I think I laughed every single time we spoke.
Three things we'll remember from Keith's TV career:
1. When it was normal for a luminous green duck to be in the charts:
2. Remember 'Cuddles' - the monkey with anger management issues?
3. Not just Keith Harris and Orville, but Ted Rodgers and 3-2-1 too!
Keith Harris and Orville at the Children’s Royal Variety Performance in 1982 (PA)
“Keith was not only a technically great ventriloquist, he was also a gifted mimic and an extraordinarily funny man both on stage and off.
“Perhaps even rarer than that in showbiz, he was a thoroughly decent man, a great friend and a wonderful father and husband.”
Mr Kelly said Harris, who died in hospital in Blackpool, spent his last months “at his second home in Portugal, taking walks along the Blackpool seafront and sitting in the park eating ice cream and watching the world go by”.
Harris, who married four times, had three children.
Keith Harris and Orville (PA)
He entertained generations of children with his sidekick Orville, a bright green duck who wore a nappy, and a monkey called Cuddles.
At the height of his fame, he was a regular on Saturday night television and put on private performances at birthday parties for Prince William and his brother Harry.
His 1982 single with Orville, I Wish I Could Fly, was a top five hit and sold more than 400,000 copies.
Among those paying tribute were singer and broadcaster Aled Jones, who said: “Sad to hear of the death of Keith Harris – sending best wishes to his family and friends.”
(Joel Ryan/Invision)
Culture Secretary Sajid Javid said: “Very sad to hear that Keith Harris has died after a battle with cancer. Brought joy to my childhood.”
Other fans marked the death on Twitter.
RIP Keith Harris. Now Orville will really have to learn to fly up to the sky to see you.
— Vote Cheese (@astrotomato) April 28, 2015
Keith Harris has died :( that is sad news! Who will take care of Orville and Cuddles now???
— Kat S (@Katonym) April 28, 2015
I wish I could fly, right up to the sky … now you can RIP Keith Harris
— Dave Bowers (@Bunkybowers) April 28, 2015
RIP Keith Harris. Way too young. A big part of my childhood and many others. You gave us smiles pal.
— Brendan Jones (@Bren2876) April 28, 2015
Sad to hear about Keith Harris passing, only worked with him a couple of times but always loved watching him and Orville from the wings!
— Neil Hurst (@neilhurst) April 28, 2015
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