The funnyman, who hosted such shows as 'Name That Tune', 'Gambit' and 'Crosswits' among others, has died at a hospital in Buckinghamshire, England at the age of 81.
- Jul 19, 2021
AceShowbiz - British comedian Tom O'Connor has died at the age of 81. The funnyman and TV presenter, who had battled Parkinson's disease for over a decade, passed away at a hospital in Buckinghamshire, England on Sunday, July 18.
Tom scored his big break in the 1970s when he appeared on stand-up series "The Comedians", and went on to land hosting gigs on shows like "Name That Tune", "Gambit", "Crosswits", "The Zodiac Game" and "The Tom O'Connor Show".
He also tried his hand at acting, landing a small role in 1994's TV movie "Zig & Zag: Entertainment Cops", and appearing as Father Tom on daytime soap "Doctors" from 2000 to 2004.
Tom was survived by his wife, his four children, his 16 grandchildren and his one great-granddaughter. His son, Steve Finan O'Connor, remembered him as a "unique comedian who was light years ahead of political correctness." Steve added, "Tom was famously known for a brand of humor that was 100% clean and always totally family friendly."
Since news of Tom's passing broke out, tributes have poured in via social media. Piers Morgan mourned the loss in a tweet that read, "RIP Tom O'Connor, 81. Comedian, TV game show host, Liverpool legend & a very funny man. Sad news. Thanks for all the laughs, Tom."
"BBC Breakfast" host Dan Walker also paid homage via Twitter. "How sad. I had the pleasure of meeting Tom O'Connor and he was kind, funny and a true gent," he tweeted. "I loved watching him on telly - Crosswits was great. My sympathies are with his family and friends."
