Beloved Welsh actor Desmond Barrit has sadly passed away at the age of 81. Barrit was largely known as a stage actor; however, many will recall that he appeared in 1999’s “A Christmas Carol” with Patrick Stewart and other films. Now that he has passed away, tributes are pouring in from fans and colleagues.
The official Instagram account for the Pavilion Theatre & Bandstand confirmed his passing on March 26. They wrote, “Everyone at the Pavilion is devastated to learn of the passing of Desmond Barrit. Des directed professional pantomime here for nearly 20 years, forming OhYesItIz Productions alongside Helen McDermott and Ian Westbrook to help keep professional panto alive in small theatres.”
The post concluded with, “He was a formidable presence, and we were privileged to have known him. Our love goes out to Byron, Helen, and all who knew him. He will be sorely missed.”
Tributes Are Pouring In For Desmond Barrit
Following the news of Barrit’s passing, many of his fans and colleagues took to social media to pay tribute to his legacy.
One person said on Instagram, “So sad to hear this. Have great memories of working on the pantomimes, ‘glitterating’ as he put it, in his wonderful Welsh accent, the ‘Wizard of Oz’ set, and many directors’ notes that are unrepeatable here. His love and talent for the craft really showed.”
Someone else said, “Such wonderful memories dancing alongside Desmond and Helen in their pantomimes over Christmas around 2000-2005. One of the greats on and off stage. Rest Peacefully.”
Another fan wrote, “So so sad. Thank you for all the memories in our years of Panto together. Every year I watch ‘A Christmas Carol’, I will smile when I see you. RIP Des. Thank you for everything.” A different Instagram user said, “RIP Desi…a great supporter of local theatre and an all-round good egg.”
Lastly, a fan said on X, “RIP Desmond Barrit, towering theatrical talent, glorious human. Had a ball hosting a Q&A on a play he was in a decade ago – had always loved him on stage, and it was a joy to discover what a smashing man he was in real life. He’ll be so missed. Hope theatres dim the lights for him.”
He Leaves Behind an Unforgettable Legacy
According to The Official London Theater, Barrit began professionally acting when he was 35. Before that, he was an accountant. As a stage actor, he’s known for his Shakespearean roles, particularly “A Comedy of Errors.”
Per IMDb, his first onscreen role was in 1979’s “Follow the Star.” After that, he appeared in the “Great Expectations” mini-series in 1989 as well as “Somewhere to Run,” which was a TV movie. Some of his most notable roles include “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in 1996, “Northanger Abbey,” “Rebecca’s Daughters,” and, as mentioned, “A Christmas Carol.”
His last on-screen role was in 2021’s “It’s a Sin.”
