Legendary Still Game actor Stevie Allen tragically dies | Celebrity News | Showbiz & TV

Stevie Allen, who played Manky Frankie Riley in BBC Scotland’s popular sitcom Still Game, has died.

His co-star Jane McCarry, 52, paid tribute to the late actor, whom she had known since she was at school.

Jane, who also starred on the show as legendary gossip Isa Drennan, confirmed the star’s sad death.

“I’m so sad to hear this news,” she said in a statement published by The Scottish Sun.

Jane first met the actor when she was in her first year at Glasgow’s King’s Park Secondary, where he had worked as a science technician.

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“I’ve known him since I was 12,” she continued. “He worked in my school as a science technician in the early 80’s.”

“Then I used to see him at Glasgow Arts Centre. He was a fantastic guy, so genuine and full of fun.”

According to Jane, the beloved sitcom actor is said to have died yesterday.

Fellow Still Game actor Tom Urie, 54, who starred alongside Stevie in the 2003 episode Brief as Martin, also paid tribute to Stevie.

“I knew Stevie at the very start of my career at the Byre Theatre in St Andrews,” he said. “He was a lovely guy and a great actor.”

The Scottish star appeared on the hit comedy show between 2002 and 2004, first making his debut in season one.

In his first-ever episode, Stevie’s character appears after leading characters Jack Jarvis (Jack Jarvis) and Victor McDade (Greg Hemphill) chap his door after finding a dead neighbour and come across an unexpected mess when they enter his flat.

Apart from his stint on Still Game, Stevie held a number of other significant roles throughout his career, starring in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the show Tinsel Town and two episodes of the TV series Taggart between 1995 and 1996.

Prior to his death, it is also understood that Stevie had worked as a paramedic for the Scottish Ambulance Service.