Celebrity friends and family have rallied round Brendan Grace as it emerged the Dublin comedian has been diagnosed with cancer aged 68.

Grace had been in hospital receiving treatment for pneumonia, according to a spokesperson, when he learned of the shock diagnosis. He has been in hospital for the last month.

“Brendan Grace has been in hospital for the last four weeks receiving treatment for pneumonia,” the spokesperson told the Irish Independent. “It has now transpired that he is also suffering from cancer for which he is receiving ongoing care and treatment. His family are a great support to him at this difficult time and respect for their privacy would be much appreciated.”

In the entertainment industry for more than 49 years, the veteran funnyman was famous for his role in ‘Father Ted’.

Actor Joe Rooney, who played Father Damo in the sitcom, did not film with Grace on the show but later worked alongside him on comedy ‘Killinaskully’.

“He is a brilliant comedy actor – underused really,” he told the Irish Independent.

“He called me a couple of times. I was on the ‘Marian Finucane Show’ years ago and I was playing clips that had inspired me. One of them was of him doing ‘Bottler’ which was released when I was a kid.”

Grace previously suffered a stroke and has been diagnosed with diabetes in the last couple of years.

Actress June Rodgers said that he is “an Irish treasure”.

“He’s such a genuine person, he never had a bad word to say about anybody,” she said.

“My thoughts are with him, he’s absolutely an Irish treasure and he’s been very kind to me.”

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