British stand-up comedian Sean Lock has died after a long battle with cancer, according to his agent. He was 58.
His agent wrote in a statement on Instagram, “It is with great sadness that we have to announce the death of Sean Lock.”
“He died at home from cancer, surrounded by his family,” the statement added. “Sean was one of Britain’s finest comedians, his boundless creativity, lightning wit, and the absurdist brilliance of his work, marked him out as a unique voice in British comedy.”
“Sean was also a cherished husband and father to three children. Sean will be sorely missed by all that knew him. We kindly request that the privacy of his family and children are respected at this difficult time.”
Lock was diagnosed with skin cancer in 1990. He said he developed the condition after overexposure to the sun while working as a builder in the early 1980s.
He was referred to a dermatologist at Guy’s Hospital, London, making a full recovery. In May 2012, Lock gave his support to a Sun Awareness event at the hospital.
Fellow comic Ricky Gervais mourned the loss on Twitter, calling Lock “a lovely man.
Gervais tweeted, “Such sad news. RIP the great Sean Lock. One of the funniest, most influential comedians of a generation. A lovely man.”
Lock’s friend and fellow comedian, Harry Hill, described him as “the comedian’s comedian.”
Lock was known for his surreal style, deadpan delivery, and dry humor. He once said that comedy is not always easy, stating, “The real secret … is every day spending tedious hours straining over a blank sheet of paper trying to think of something funny. Some days I’d rather try and lay an egg.”
Born on April 22, 1963, in Chertsey, Surrey, Lock was raised in Woking, Surrey, and attended St. John the Baptist School. His father, Sidney Lock, worked in the building industry. He was the youngest of four children. Lock is survived by his wife, Anoushka Nara Giltsoff, two daughters, and a son.
