TRIBUTES have been paid to stage and TV comedy actor Iain McColl following his death from cancer aged 59.
McColl, best known to viewers as Big Tam in BBC Scotland's City Lights in the late 1980s and early 1990s, also once had a prominent role as Dodie in Rab C Nesbitt.
He died at the Beatson Clinic in Glasgow, where he had been receiving treatment.
Actor Jonathan Watson, who starred with McColl in City Lights and who is best known for his footballing impressions in the BBC's Only an Excuse, described McColl as a joy to act with.
"I met Iain just after coming out of drama college," he said "He was an incredible character. While he was known for playing fools and daft characters, few people know he won the gold medal while at the RSAMD in Glasgow. He was that good. He will be sadly missed. He wasn't just a great actor, he was a gentle giant."
Brian Pettifer, who played Andra in a double act with McColl's Dodie in Rab C Nesbitt added: "What I liked about him was he was always honest and upfront and slightly crazy.
"We were filming Nesbitt, one day he came in and told me he was sleeping in his car. He'd bought an old Bentley Esprit and had parked it in the west end of Glasgow. For Iain, this seemed a perfectly natural thing to do."
McColl's sister Martha said: "Just last week he put on a show for the patients and staff at the hospital. He was doing impersonations of Chic Murray and Tommy Cooper and he had people in stitches."
McColl worked extensively for the Comedy Unit production centre in Glasgow. He also had roles in films such as Gangs of New York and Comfort and Joy. However, he had a history of substance abuse and was banned from driving for 10 years for drink-driving.
His funeral has yet to be arranged.
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