The well known former show host of the popular 1980’s children’s TV show Bosco Frank Twomey has died.
The avuncular Corkonian actor and comedian is best known for his role as presenting the beloved RTÉ show.
However, he also tread the boards and set himself apart as a fine stage and screen actor by portraying a slew of characters over the course of his five decade long career as well as an ability to show versatility.
He famously appeared on RTÉ’s Bull Island as well as trailblazing comedy Nighthawks. His turn as ‘Mammy’ O’Rourke on the former show listed was often cited as a source of amusement to many, even if the show itself was often panned.
Tributes have poured in for the actor.
From Funny Friday, Bull island, and of course Bosco. he was a brilliant actor comic and dear friend. R.I.P,” Joe Duffy wrote.
RedFM host Neil Prenderville wrote: “Very very sad to hear about the passing of Frank Twomey, my former Panto stablemate, this morning.
“Frank was a super actor, very underrated, and had a wicked sense of humor. He came in to see me in studio a few years back. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.”
An openly gay man, Twomey’s work on came in a more conservative era of Irish society and politics.
“They knew,” he told rte.ie in 2020. I was freaked out about it because it was a different era. We’re talking the ’80s, and it had yet to be legalised, let alone same-sex marriage.”
“…but it didn’t stop me from being gay. It meant that I was careful and I was very discrete because I had a government job“.
