Au revoir to Rene... ‘Allo ‘Allo!’s Gorden Kaye dies aged 75
’ALLO ’Allo! star Gorden Kaye died yesterday aged 75 after suffering dementia for several years.
Kaye, who played cafe owner and reluctant Resistance fighter Rene Artois, passed away in a care home.
It is understood that his ’Allo ’Allo! co-star Sue Hodge – waitress Mimi Labonq – had been helping to care for him in his final days.
Kaye was loved by millions and actress Vicki Michelle, who played lusty waitress Yvette CarteBlanche in the farce set in Nazioccupied France, said: “There will never be another Rene.”
As Rene, Kaye would enjoy clandestine cuddles with Yvette once his on-screen wife Edith was out of sight. When he was caught red-handed and asked what he was doing, he would utter an implausible explanation then say: “You stupid woman.”
Vicki, 66, said: “So sad to hear of Gorden Kaye. A brilliantly talented actor, consummate professional, loved the world over.”
’Allo ’Allo! enjoyed huge success on BBC One between 1982 and 1992 and still remains one of Britain’s most popular sitcoms.
Kaye appeared in all 84 episodes and resurrected his role for a 2007 special.
Rene risked his neck to aid the Resistance effort under the noses of the Germans alongside Carmen Silvera, as his wife Edith, Richard Gibson as Gestapo officer Herr Flick and Officer Crabtree (Arthur Bostrom), whose mangled vowels led him to adopt the greeting: “Good moaning.” But Kaye was rarely seen on screen again after the end of the long-running show.
Guy Siner, 69, who played Lieutenant Gruber, said: “I’m very sorry to hear of Gorden’s death. We did do some good work together. I’m proud of what we did.”
Francesca Gonshaw, 57, who played Maria, said: “This is a sad day. I’ve not seen Gorden for 20 years but ’Allo ’Allo! was one of my first acting jobs. Gorden was a consummate professional.”
Kaye, who was born in Huddersfield, West Yorks, and lived near Ilkley Moor in his later years, also starred in a successful stage version of ’Allo ’Allo!
He was in Coronation Street as Elsie Tanner’s nephew Bernard Butler between 1969 and 1970. Kaye also appeared in Last Of The Summer Wine, It Ain’t Half Hot Mum, Are You Being Served? and Emmerdale.
His last role was in the BBC sketch Revolver in 2004. In 1989 he wrote his autobiography in which he described growing up as a shy, homosexual youth. And he said the unusual spelling of his first name was simply the result of a British Actors’ Equity Association typing error.
Asked how he would like to be remembered, he said: “Just that ‘he made us laugh’. You use fewer muscles on your face to laugh and smile than to frown.” He said of ’Allo ’Allo!: “It’s always been amazing. The widow of a real Resistance fighter once sent me his emblem with a lovely letter. I met the Queen Mother who was a great fan, I met Princess Diana three times and I was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1986.”
‘A brilliant talented actor who was loved the world over’
GORDEN KAYE, best known for playing cafe owner Rene in ’Allo ’Allo!, has died at 75. His womanising character was a highlight of the hugely popular show, which ran for 10 years. Au revoir Gorden, you and your comic creations will be much missed.