Craig Revel Horwood has paid homage to his late friend and co-star Paul O’Grady, expressing his’shock’ at the renowned comedian’s passing at the age of 67.
The two were sharing the part of Miss Hannigan in the travelling theatrical production of Annie, with O’Grady having previously been in a few shows.
On Tuesday, March 28, O’Grady died abruptly but quietly, according to his husband, Andre Portasio.
Strictly Come Dancing judge Revel Horwood called the Lily Savage star as a “gorgeous colleague and friend” in a Twitter message.
‘I’m in a state of shock this morning, waking up to the news that my gorgeous colleague and friend, Paul O’Grady has passed away,’ the 58-year-old said.
‘I’m actually reeling in disbelief. He was such a wonderful human being, funny and to the point. Paul, legend, RIP darling.’
It was originally revealed that O’Grady will play Miss Hannigan in a number of UK cities, including Newcastle, Southampton, and Bristol.
His final performance in Annie was just a few days ago in Edinburgh, following a five-week run at the Edinburgh Playhouse.
He was scheduled to perform through November of this year.
‘Everyone at Annie The Musical is startled and heartbroken by the departure of Paul O’Grady,’ the company said in a statement. Miss Hannigan was fantastic, and she was an irreplaceable, witty, and giving lady who we shall all miss terribly.
‘Our thoughts are with Paul’s family and friends at this very sad time. There will be further news from Annie The Musical in due course.’
‘I was in panto and I went for a drink afterwards with the producer. He said he was doing a national tour of Annie. Four more whiskies later and I’m saying, “Do you know, I wouldn’t mind doing a few weeks of Annie,”’ he said at the time.
‘So, I’m doing seven weeks. That’s enough because I’ve got other commitments with animals. I’m really looking forward to it, because I haven’t done theatre for a while. I’ve played Miss Hannigan before, in 1998 in London, and then we toured with it.’
When asked who was more glamorous out of him and Revel Horwood, O’Grady responded: ‘Craig, definitely. I do her far more downtrodden. In my version she’s a bit raggy. I’m going to do her a lot older, where she’s got no tolerance at all for kids – all she wants to do is listen to her radio and get drunk. Don’t we all!’
In October last year, O’Gady celebrated being cast in the production, stating that ‘this is what happens when you go for a drink after rehearsals with your producer and after being plied with whisky you’d agree to play a nun in the Sound of Music let alone Miss Hannigan’.
O’Grady had decades of theatrical experience, having made a name for himself as the drag queen Lily Savage.
In the theatre, he appeared in performances such as Prisoner Cell Block H, Lily’s Christmas Cracker, and The Lily Savage Show, which ran for 16 weeks and sold out.
Source My Celebrity Life.