Francis O'Kelly, known professionally as Frank Kelly, was born on December 28, 1938, in Blackrock, County Dublin, Ireland. He began his career as an actor and singer after studying law at University College Dublin and working briefly as a journalist. In 1982, he released his first single "Christmas Countdown", a comedy monologue based on the Christmas song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" under the pseudonym Gobnait O’Lúnasa. The track was later included in an album release titled Christmas Countdown. Frank Kelly's music career was marked by this unique comedic approach, blending humor with traditional holiday themes. He continued to work extensively in television and film throughout his life. He is best remembered for playing Father Jack Hackett in the Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted, which aired from April 1995 to May 1998. His acting career spanned various genres, including roles in films like The Italian Job (1969) and Evelyn (2002), as well as television shows such as Glenroe and Emmerdale. Frank Kelly passed away on February 28, 2016.
