Glen Hansard has paid tribute to his Commitments co-star

It's with a very heavy heart that we report the death of Johnny Murphy, the seasoned actor who played trumpet-player Joey 'The Lips' Fagan in The Commitments.

"A beautiful man and a true gent, bless you Johnny," messages castmate Glen Hansard while Maria Doyle Kennedy observes simply, "Gentleman."

"Another great Irishman leaves us," notes Simon Delaney; "Very sad... he's motoring through the pearly gates on his beloved Suzuki," add the Riptide Movement, while broadcaster John Kelly says: "So sorry to hear of the passing of Johnny Murphy. Brilliant in Godot. Lovely man."

Murphy also appeared in Into The West, Waiting For Godot and Angela's Ashes and, most intriguingly, Remington Steele alongside the young Pierce Brosnan.

We're particularly fond of this exchange in the film:

Jimmy Rabbitte: Who are you, then?

Joey: Are you the one startin' the band?

Jimmy Rabbitte: Yeah.

Joey: The name's Joseph Fagan. Joey 'The Lips' Fagan.

Jimmy Rabbitte: And I'm Jimmy 'The Bollocks' Rabbitte

Joey: I get mine from my horn playing. How'd you get yours?

Jimmy Rabbitte: Don't get snotty with me.

Joey: I get snotty with no man.