Spike Milligan, who died yesterday, was one of the most influential humorists of the 20th century. His work, particularly as one of the legendary Goons in the 1950s, changed the face of British comedy and influenced the following generations, from Beyond the Fringe and Monty Python down to today's comics. Many of them - particularly Irish ones - cite him as a major influence. However, he disdained much contemporary comedy, which was among the many things he railed against. But his outbursts were often over things he was passionate about - animal rights, the destruction of the environment, and the world's over-population.
The old cliché about the tears of a clown was true in Milligan's case. His comedy had a manic quality. Throughout his life he struggled with mental illness and was hospitalised for depression.
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His genius was for a combination of the surreal and the simple. He always seemed on the edge of comic rage - some of it real. He was difficult and unpredictable, but these were among the traits that grew into his anarchic comedy.He famously described Prince Charles - a longtime fan - as "a little grovelling bastard" on live television. He followed it up with a fax to the Prince commenting: "I suppose a knighthood is out of the question?" In fact he was honoured last year.
He was born in India of an Irish father - from Co Sligo - and an English mother, held an Irish passport for many years and described Ireland as "my country." His comic instincts - which we might like to claim as a reflection of his Irish heritage - were both anti-authoritarian and freewheeling, a feature he shared with Flann O'Brien. He had a love-hate relationship with this country, not really being a part of contemporary Ireland but caring deeply about it, and continually declaring his citizenship.
Eddie Izzard yesterday spoke for all comedians and Milligan's legions of admirers when he said: "He was a great man. I think he was the godfather of alternative comedy. He was a crazy, wonderful genius."