Renowned Fair City and theatre actor David Heap dies at 76

Kenneth Fox

Actor David Heap, who played Donal Maher in Fair City, has died at the age of 76.

The English-born actor moved to Ireland after playing the original Captain Lancey in the world premiere of Translations by Brian Friel in 1980.

As The Irish Times reports, Heap had been diagnosed with Corticobasal Syndrome, a rare neurodegenerative disease, last year.

His wife, actor Olwen Fouéré, confirmed the news of his death on Tuesday, “in my arms at home” in a social media post.

His performance as Captain Lancey was part of the “first ever” production from the Field Day theatre company created by Stephen Rea and Brian Friel.

Heap was born in Cinderford, Gloucestershire on May 21st 1949. He received his education at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

Sharing a tribute on Wednesday, Dublin’s Gate Theatre said it was “very saddened to learn of” Heap’s death.

“David performed memorably in many Gate Theatre productions including Salomé, The Importance of being Earnest and Les Liaisons Dangereuses,” the post, containing a selection of stills from each production, read.

The Abbey Theatre also paid tribute to the actor, expressing its “sincere sympathies to David’s family and friends in Ireland,” to Fouéré, and to “his extensive theatrical family worldwide”.

In a statement, it said Heap would be “remembered as a champion of emerging artists and generous to all he worked with, bringing an enthusiasm and joy to each project.”

Heap first worked with the Abbey in 1990, performing in several shows across both of the theatre’s stages. His favourite role was that of Croucher in The Silver Tassie by Seán O’Casey, the tribute said.

His funeral service will be at 11 am in the Unitarian Church, St Stephen’s Green, on Friday, January 2nd. Burial on Omey Island, Co Galway, the following day.

Family flowers only. Donations, if desired, to Focus Ireland or Médecins Sans Frontières.