Actor who appeared in three series of the sitcom and as Dennis Potter’s socially mobile working-class hero Nigel Barton has died after short illness

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

The actor Keith Barron has died after a short illness, at the age of 83, his agent said.

Barron was best known for his starring role in three series of Duty Free, the 1980s Yorkshire Television sitcom written by Eric Chappell in which he played David Pearce.

Born in Mexborough, South Yorkshire, he rose to fame in 1963 after joining the cast of Granada Television’s police show The Odd Man in its final series. He continued to play Detective Sergeant Swift for one series of the spin-off show It’s Dark Outside, before in 1965 landing the lead role in Dennis Potter’s acclaimed BBC1 television plays Stand Up, Nigel Barton and Vote, Vote, Vote for Nigel Barton.

A regular on British TV ever since, he has appeared in numerous landmark series, from Doctor Who to Z Cars, The Professionals to Clocking Off. His filmography includes the 1971 comedy She’ll Follow You Anywhere and the 1975 Hollywood adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ The Land That Time Forgot.

He won plaudits for his role alongside Maggie O’Neill in Tony Marchant’s 1989 BBC series Take Me Home. More recently he appeared in the 2013 BBC comedy-drama Being Eileen and as the deputy mayor of Benidorm in the popular ITV sitcom of the same name.

sunetra sarker (@sarker) So sad to hear of dear friend #KeithBarron passing away. One of a kind. Guaranteed laughter. Shall never forget those days. Old school 🌈 pic.twitter.com/iXHVJBUhY1

The actor Sunetra Sarker, who starred alongside Barron on Casualty, called him “one of a kind” who “guaranteed laughter”, while the writer and broadcaster Matthew Sweet paid tribute to “an underrated actor”.

Matthew Sweet (@DrMatthewSweet) I loved the cadences of Keith Barron's voice: smooth and authoritative, but quick to show steel or self-pity when required. An underrated actor. pic.twitter.com/VZxIaNeXsG

Barron is survived by his wife, Mary, to whom he was married for 58 years, and his son, Jamie, also an actor..