Former Husband of Prick Up Your Ears Star Matt Lucas Commits Suicide

The former husband of British actor Matt Lucas was found dead in his Edinburgh apartment after hanging himself, London papers reported on October 6. TV producer Kevin McGee posted a suicide message on Facebook that read, “Kevin McGee thinks that death is much better than life.”

Lucas is the star of Prick Up Your Ears at London’s Comedy Theatre, in which he plays Kenneth Halliwell, who murdered his lover, playwright Joe Orton. Best known for the comedy series Little Britain, Lucas received critical acclaim for his performance in the difficult role of Halliwell. Devastated by the news, he is now on indefinite leave from the show.

"Our thoughts are with Matt, whom we are in constant touch with,” the play’s producers said in a statement. “Until further notice his role of Kenneth Halliwell in the West End production of Prick Up Your Ears will be played by his understudy, Michael Chadwick." The play, which co-stars Chris New as Orton and Gwen Taylor as their neighbor, was written by Simon Bent based on John Lahr’s biography and Orton’s diaries.

According to news reports, Lucas and McGee, who married in a celebrity-packed ceremony in December 2006, had been together for six years when they broke up in June 2008. Lucas was said to be “utterly destroyed” by the news and was being comforted by close friend and comedy partner David Walliams at his home in Marylebone, London.