Bryan Murray to retire from Fair City after 20 years

Bryan Murray is to retire from Fair City after twenty years playing Bob Charles on the RTÉ soap, following a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.

75-year-old Mr Murray, whose long list of TV roles also includes RTÉ’s adaptation of Strumpet City, Channel 4 soap Brookside, and RTÉ/Channel 4 comedy-drama The Irish R.M., first appeared on the show in 2005.

The Dublin-born actor was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2019 but continued to appear on Fair City.

He went public with his story in 2022 to raise awareness of the disease and to help others.

He will make his last appearance on screen on the popular soap on Thursday 24 April.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio 1's Morning Ireland, Fair City's Executive Producer Brigie de Courcy said: "We are all very sad about this. Bryan has been an absolutely wonderful part of the team for the last 20 years, an integral part of the story and an absolute consummate professional.

"He is the very sort of person, when you have a young actor coming in you say to them, 'Go down and watch Bryan and watch what he does, how he occupies the space and how he occupies the screen'."

De Courcy also explained how Murray has been able to continue working since his diagnosis. She said: "Initially we put all of his scripts onto a clip board so he could read his scene and it was very efficient.

"We ended up with a situation where he had a Bluetooth ear loop and we had a dialogue guide who would actually listen to him in rehearsal and pick up his intonations and his rhythms and then he would repeat it back to him on the floor and then Bryan would then say the line.

"His courage to go and do that, when he didn't quite know what he was going to do or say, was quite exemplary, quite extraordinary.

She added: "It was a wonderful opportunity for the crew and the cast to see this that they can continue working even when they have something challenging going on for them."

In a statement, Fair City said: "Bryan took on the role of Charles, a man whose complex relationships and gripping storylines captured the attention of viewers across the country.

"Over the years, his portrayal of Bob has been a cornerstone of the show, delivering unforgettable moments".

During his time on Fair City, Bob managed and ran McCoy’s Pub, before taking over local café, The Hungry Pig. The character was considered an integral part of the community and was often involved in philanthropic work.

The show’s producers added, "Bob Charles’ dynamic evolution - from family man to navigating intense emotional challenges - showcased Mr Murray’s exceptional range as an actor.

"One of his most memorable storylines on the show was when he ended up homeless, sleeping rough on the streets of Carrigstown and was ostracised from the community."

Murray met his on and off-screen partner, Una Crawford O’Brien, on Fair City. Their characters had an affair on-screen and later married.

Speaking to The Ray D'Arcy Show on RTÉ Radio 1 earlier this week Crawford O'Brien shared that Murray "can no longer be on his own for any length of time".

She explained that becoming Murray's carer was "a very gradual thing" but added that, "in the six years I knew what was down the road".

She added: "Being a carer changes your relationship. Looking after someone who has Alzheimers you realise this is not who we were, who we were together. And I think that is the saddest part of it.

"I don't mind looking after him - sometimes it can be frustrating, sometimes it can be annoying, sometimes it's funny, but I think it is the sadness when you realise that your life has changed because of being a carer.

"When we got together, he made me laugh so much, I fell off a chair! He brought laughter back into my life."

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