Dublin: 5 °C Wednesday 22 January, 2025
Advertisement

Johnny Murphy, the man behind The Commitments' 'Joey The Lips', has died

“He was charming and cantankerous and humorous to the end”.

hon

ACTOR JOHNNY MURPHY, best known as trumpet player Joey ‘The Lips’ Fagan in The Commitments, has died.

Murphy, who was also an accomplished theatre actor, passed away after a brief respiratory illness. He had been diagnosed with cancer in 2011.

Director and friend Peter Reid posted on Facebook this morning:

It’s with great sadness to have to say John ” Johnny” Murphy died last night after a brief respiratory illness. He passed peacefully and will be deeply missed. He was charming and cantankerous and humorous to the end. RIP John ( 1943 – 2016)

Commitments co-star Glen Hansard is among those paying tribute to Murphy today:

File Photo Actor Johnny Murphy has died. Murphty with Commitments co-stars Angeline Ball and Bronagh Gallagher Source: Eamonn Farrell

File Photo Actor Johnny Murphy has died. Source: Eamonn Farrell

Another Commitments star, Maria Doyle Kennedy simply said:

7 wonderful gifts Roddy Doyle has given the world

About the author:

Emer McLysaght

Read next:

COMMENTS (26)