Actor Grant Tilly passes away

File photo / Warren Buckland

Actor Grant Tilly has died.

The 74-year-old was a founding member of Wellington's Circa Theatre.

Tilly acted in a number of successful New Zealand plays, including Foreskin's Lament and Middle Age Spread.

He also performed in the play Glide Time and then on the television series Gliding On when it reached the screen.

Circa Theatre says he was one of the country's most talented and best known actors.

The theatre's Facebook page says he made a great contribution to the theatre scene in New Zealand and will be sorely missed.

Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson this afternoon expressed his sadness at Tilly's death.

"Grant had been unwell for some time and his passing is very sad,'' said Mr Finlayson.

"It is impossible in a press release to list all his achievements in the theatre. He was one of a small group of people who formed Circa Theatre in 1976 and built it into its pre-eminent position today,'' he said in a statement.

"My thoughts are with his family, his old friends at Circa and the theatre community.''