Irish comedian Dave Allen has died at the age of 68, his agent said today.
He died in his sleep at his west London home last night.
His agent said the cause of death was unknown. "He had been ill over Christmas but then was OK. This has come as a surprise," Vivienne Clore said.
Dave Allen in familiar pose. PA
Allen was a TV favourite with his shows Tonight With Dave Allenand Dave Allen At Large. He leaves a wife, Karin, and three children.
Born in Limerick in 1936, Allen was the son of former Irish Timesmanaging editor Cully Tynan O'Mahoney.
He left school at 16 and worked in the Drogheda Argusnewspaper as a copy-boy. He went to London aged 19, where he eventually changed his surname because people were unable to pronounce it.
He subsequently went to Australia where he presented Channel 9's offbeat Tonightshow.
He married English actress Judith Stott in 1964 but the two were to divorce almost 20 years later after they returned to England.