Peaky Blinders and Karl Shields died suddenly aged 47 (Picture: Rex/BBC)

Actor Karl Shiels has died suddenly at the age of 47.

The Irish soap star was well-known for starring in Fair City as Robbie Quinn and Dublin-born actor’s death was confirmed by his agent today, reports RTÉ.

In a statement, his agent Lisa Richard said: ‘We are deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the sudden passing of our client and friend Karl Shiels, yesterday.

‘Karl was a uniquely talented individual, simultaneously intense, light-hearted, funny, sharp-witted, outspoken and intensely powerful as an actor, director and artistic director of the Theatre Upstairs – where he was such a support and mentor for young writers, actors and directors – and of his own company Semper Fi before that.




‘Our hearts are broken but today our thoughts are with his partner Laura and his family, his children and their mother Dearbhla and his many close friends among whom we count ourselves lucky to have been for so many years.’

Shiels became a regular on the ubiquitous Dublin soap back in 2014 and fast became one of the most prominent residents of the fictional Carrigstown, starring opposite Aisling O’Neill who played his on-screen love interest, Carol.

Karl starred in a 2013 episode of Peaky Blinders (Picture: BBC)

He last appeared on television on just as recently as Sunday night.

Shiels also starred in a number of television shows, playing a character called Ryan in an episode of Peaky Blinders back in 2013 as well as playing Declan in martial arts drama, Into the Badlands.

His film work includes role sin movies Batman Begins, Veronica Guerin, Intermission, The Clinic, and Capital Letters.

He also had a prominent stage career, appearing in several productions in Dublin’s Abbey Theatre including Beauty in a Broken Place, At Swim-Two Birds and The Barbaric Comedies.

Shiels’ death comes weeks after the passing of Tom Jordan who played Charlie Kelly in the long-running RTÉ soap.

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