Heartbroken stars pay tribute to the ‘brilliantly talented’ ‘Allo, Allo!’ actor Gorden Kaye following his death aged 75
The star's agent confirmed he died at a care home this morning
HEARTBROKEN stars have paid tribute to the "brilliantly talented" 'Allo 'Allo! actor Gorden Kaye after his death at the age of 75.
The BAFTA nominated comic's agent confirmed Kaye, who is best known for his role in the long-running BBC sitcom, had passed away at a care home this morning.
Kaye playing Rene with his on-screen wife Madame Edith in the hit show
His agent made no comment on how the beloved actor had died, and only confirmed that he had died on January 23.
Tributes were led by his 'Allo 'Allo! co-star Vicki Michelle who posted on Twitter: "So sad to hear news of Gorden Kaye. A brilliantly talented actor consummate professional, loved the world over.
"There'll never be another Rene."
Guy Siner, who played German Lieutenant Hubert Gruber in the hit sitcom, also paid tribute on social media.
He wrote: "I'm very sorry to hear of Gorden Kaye's death; he might not have been the easiest man in the world but to be fair we did do some pretty good work together. I'm proud of what we did. Who could ask for anything more?"
Another co-star, Kim Hartman, who played German Private Helga Geerhart, said: "'I am devastated. Gorden was such a funny man and such a big part of my life."
Kaye played cafe owner Rene Artois on the hit show and appeared in all 84 episodes of the beloved show.
The BAFTA-nominated English actor has made appearances in Last of the Summer Wine, Are You Being Served? and Coronation Street.
'Allo 'Allo! ran from 1982 to 1992 and the success of the show was so great a stage version was created, which Artois also appeared in.
The show centred on resistance fighters in World War Two in German-occupied France.
Kaye's character, referred to as Rene, but codenamed Nighthawk by the Resistance, is the owner of a cafe and led a complicated life.
The sitcom left a legacy of catchphrases and boasted a host of famous fans, such as Lord Bath who created an exhibition in his ancestral home Longleat.
Artois' last screen role was in 2004 in the BBC sketch show Revolver.
He released an autobiography in 1989 titled Rene and Me: A Sort of Autobiography, where he described his experiences as a shy, gay, typecast youth.
He returned to 'Allo 'Allo! in a one-off television revival in 2007 to assume his famous role.
Before he became an actor he played rugby league before studying at King James’ Grammar School in Huddersfield.
He worked in hospital radio and interviewed The Beatles in 1965.
Kaye suffered serious head injuries from a car accident during the Burns' Day storm on January 25, 1990.
He could not remember anything about what happened but still had a scar on his forehead from a piece of wooden advertising board that smashed through the car windscreen.
In 1982 he was sent the script for the pilot episode of the BBC show and was approached to be the central character.
He had previously appeared in It Ain't Half Hot Mum and Come Back Mrs Noah, and made an impression on David Croft, who then created 'Allo 'Allo!
The unusual spelling of the name Gorden was the result of a British Actors' Equity Association typing error.
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