Actor BJ Hogg – of Give My Head Peace, Hunger, and Game of Thrones – dies

The actor William Henry Brian Hogg, known as BJ, has died.

He was familiar to many BBC viewers as Big Mervyn from Give My Head Peace, where he was often seen in the company of Uncle Andy.

BJ Hogg (Big Mervyn) and Marty Reid (Uncle Andy) from BBC Northern Ireland's 'Give My Head Peace' in New York in December 2000placeholder image
BJ Hogg (Big Mervyn) and Marty Reid (Uncle Andy) from BBC Northern Ireland's 'Give My Head Peace' in New York in December 2000

A notice for him on Funeral Times notes that his death was sudden and happened at home on Thursday.

It describes him as: “Dearly-beloved husband of Elish and much-loved father of Nathan and Abigail, father-in-law of Natalie and loved granda to Georgia.”

The funeral will be private but a service of thanksgiving will be arranged at a later date.

The BBC said tonight that Mr Hogg, who was aged 65 and was born in Lisburn, had appeared in TV series The Fall and Game of Thrones, as well as playing a loyalist in the film Hunger, about the death of Bobby Sands.

The BBC last night quoted its Northern Ireland director Peter Johnston saying: “BJ was a great comedy talent and a much-loved character in our long-running sitcom, Give My Head Peace.

“Many people will also remember his performance in the Oscar-nominated Dance, Lexie Dance. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad and difficult time.”

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