Tony De Meur, the British musician, comedian and songwriter better known by his stage name Ronnie Golden, has died at the age of 78. His death was announced by his partner, film producer Grace Carley, and news of his passing prompted tributes from people across the British music and comedy communities.
De Meur was known for moving between music and comedy during a career that lasted for decades. He founded The Fabulous Poodles in the 1970s before becoming part of London’s alternative comedy scene. Television viewers also remembered him for his appearance as Buddy Holly in The Young Ones.
Latest Update on Tony De Meur’s Death
As of September 28, 2026, Tony De Meur’s death has been reported by multiple entertainment and comedy publications following an announcement from his partner, Grace Carley. Chortle reported on September 27 that Carley announced his death on social media and said he had peacefully slipped away the previous afternoon while she was walking their dog.
That account places his death on September 26, 2026. However, Chortle’s biographical listing currently records September 27 as his date of death, creating a one-day discrepancy in published records. For that reason, September 26 is used here when referring to the date described by Carley’s announcement, while the discrepancy is acknowledged rather than ignored.
Some reports have described his death as following a sudden heart attack. Beyond The Joke reported that social-media posts said he had suffered a heart attack, while another report published on September 28 also gave a heart attack as the cause. Carley’s announcement, however, focused on the peaceful nature of his death and did not itself provide a medical explanation.
As of the latest reports reviewed, funeral arrangements and details about a public memorial had not been announced.
Who Was Tony De Meur?
Tony De Meur was a British performer whose professional career crossed several parts of the entertainment industry. He worked as a singer, guitarist, songwriter and comedian, but many people knew him as Ronnie Golden, the name he adopted during his move into alternative comedy.
His first major public profile came through music. In the 1970s, he founded The Fabulous Poodles, a British band known for combining rock and new-wave influences with humor and unusual stage performances. The group developed a following in Britain and the United States and became an important part of De Meur’s early career.
After The Fabulous Poodles ended, De Meur moved further into comedy. He became associated with The Comic Strip and the alternative comedy circuit in London, while also appearing regularly at The Comedy Store. His ability to combine guitar playing, songwriting and comedy became a central part of his identity as Ronnie Golden.
The Fabulous Poodles and His Music Career
The Fabulous Poodles emerged during the 1970s and developed a distinctive identity through a mixture of music and comedy. De Meur served as lead vocalist and guitarist, while the band’s performances included theatrical and humorous elements.
The group released three albums during its main period of activity: Fabulous Poodles in 1977, Unsuitable in 1978 and Think Pink in 1979. Their work also reached American audiences, where the band toured and appeared on bills with established performers including Tom Petty, the Ramones and Chuck Berry.
The band’s connection with Chuck Berry was particularly notable because the Fabulous Poodles not only toured alongside him but also served as his backing band during part of their American work. Their American album Mirror Stars also performed strongly enough to reach the U.S. album chart.
The Fabulous Poodles eventually broke up around 1980. De Meur’s career did not end with the band, however. Instead, he used his musical skills as a foundation for a new career in comedy.
Ronnie Golden and the Alternative Comedy Scene
Following the end of the Fabulous Poodles, Tony De Meur adopted the stage name Ronnie Golden and became a regular performer on London’s alternative comedy circuit. He worked both as a solo performer and in association with The Comic Strip.
His comedy career was unusual because music remained at its center. Rather than leaving his guitar behind when he moved into comedy, Golden combined songs, stories, jokes and live musicianship. That approach helped him establish a place within the British musical-comedy scene.
He was also a regular performer at The Comedy Store during the early years of London’s alternative comedy movement. Chortle’s retrospective on his career describes him as a long-standing figure in that community, with fellow performers remembering his storytelling and musicianship after his death.
Tony De Meur on The Young Ones
One of Ronnie Golden’s best-known television appearances came on the BBC comedy series The Young Ones. He appeared in the show’s second episode, playing a version of Buddy Holly in a memorable musical sequence.
In the scene, Golden appears suspended upside down from the ceiling in a parachute while performing. The unusual appearance became one of the more recognizable television moments associated with his comedy career and helped introduce his work to audiences beyond the live comedy circuit.
His television work was not limited to The Young Ones. Reports about his career also identify appearances connected with productions including Spitting Image and The Lenny Henry Show.
Work With Barry Cryer
Another important part of Golden’s later career was his long-running musical partnership with comedian Barry Cryer. The two performed together for many years at comedy clubs, festivals and special events.
Their work included appearances at the Nine Lessons and Carols for Godless People events at London’s Bloomsbury Theatre and Hammersmith Apollo in 2009. Their performance was later broadcast by BBC Four in January 2010.
Golden and Cryer also appeared together at several Edinburgh Fringe shows. Their collaborations continued across many years, making the relationship an important part of Golden’s later professional life. Chortle’s record of his career lists numerous joint Edinburgh appearances between 2003 and 2018.
After Cryer’s death, Golden continued to perform and was involved in events remembering his former collaborator. His career therefore remained connected to the comedy world that had become his second major professional home.
Ronnie and the Rex
Golden continued working as a musician even after becoming established as a comedian. He later fronted Ronnie and the Rex, an R&B and soul group that gave him another outlet for his musical interests.
His continued work across music and comedy showed why Tony De Meur and Ronnie Golden were effectively two names connected to the same creative career. He could perform as a guitarist and singer, then move into comedy without abandoning either side of his work.
Family and Partner
Tony De Meur’s partner was film producer Grace Carley. Carley was the person who publicly announced his death and invited friends and colleagues to share their memories of him.
In her announcement, Carley described his passing as peaceful and said she was away walking the dog when he died. She also said that although the news was a shock, she took comfort in the fact that he had not suffered.
Beyond Carley, detailed information about De Meur’s wider family, including parents, siblings and children, has not been established in the reliable reports reviewed for this obituary. Those details are therefore not presented as fact.
Tony De Meur Age
Tony De Meur was 78 years old when he died. Chortle’s professional biography gives his birth date as April 2, 1948, although published death records currently differ by one day.
Using the April 2, 1948 birth date and the September 2026 death announcement, he was 78 at the time of his death.
Tony De Meur Religion
Reliable current reporting does not establish Tony De Meur’s religious affiliation. Although some of his comedy work involved religious themes or settings, those performances do not provide a reliable basis for identifying his personal beliefs.
Tony De Meur Net Worth
Tony De Meur’s personal net worth was not publicly established by a reliable financial source. No verified figure should therefore be presented as his confirmed wealth.
His career included record releases, touring, television work, comedy performances, songwriting and live appearances, but those professional credits do not provide enough information to calculate his personal estate accurately.
Tony De Meur Height
A reliable public source confirming Tony De Meur’s height was not identified in the current reporting reviewed for this obituary. His height is therefore listed as unconfirmed rather than estimated.
Education and Early Life
Detailed information about De Meur’s childhood and formal education is limited in the current obituary reporting. The reliable career records focus primarily on his work in music and comedy rather than providing a full account of his early years.
What is clear is that music became a central part of his professional identity by the 1970s. His work with the Fabulous Poodles established him as a guitarist, vocalist and songwriter before he developed the Ronnie Golden comedy persona.
Quick Table: Tony De Meur
| Full Name | Tony De Meur |
|---|---|
| Stage Name | Ronnie Golden |
| Born | April 2, 1948, according to Chortle’s biography |
| Age at Death | 78 |
| Reported Death | September 26, 2026, according to his partner’s announcement; some listings record September 27 |
| Profession | Musician, guitarist, singer, comedian and songwriter |
| Best Known For | The Fabulous Poodles, alternative comedy and The Young Ones |
| Television Role | Buddy Holly in The Young Ones |
| Partner | Grace Carley |
| Reported Cause | Heart attack reported by some outlets; partner’s announcement did not independently specify a medical cause |
| Funeral Details | Not publicly announced as of September 28, 2026 |
Reader Questions
Who was Tony De Meur?
Tony De Meur was a British musician, guitarist, singer, songwriter and comedian. He was better known in comedy as Ronnie Golden and was the founder of The Fabulous Poodles.
What was Ronnie Golden’s real name?
Ronnie Golden’s real name was Tony De Meur. He used the Ronnie Golden name during his long career in alternative comedy.
How old was Tony De Meur when he died?
Tony De Meur was 78 years old when he died in September 2026. Chortle lists his birth date as April 2, 1948.
When did Tony De Meur die?
His partner, Grace Carley, announced that he had died the previous afternoon when she posted the news on September 27, placing his death on September 26, 2026. Chortle’s biographical listing currently gives September 27, so published records contain a one-day discrepancy.
What caused Tony De Meur’s death?
Several reports have described a sudden heart attack as the cause of death. However, Carley’s announcement emphasized that he died peacefully and did not itself give a medical cause, so the heart-attack detail should be treated as reported rather than independently confirmed.
Was Tony De Meur in The Young Ones?
Yes. Ronnie Golden appeared in the second episode of The Young Ones, where he played Buddy Holly in a memorable parachute sequence.
What band did Tony De Meur found?
He founded The Fabulous Poodles in the 1970s. The band released three main albums and toured internationally, including performances alongside major acts such as Tom Petty and Chuck Berry.
Who was Tony De Meur’s partner?
His partner was film producer Grace Carley. She announced his death and shared the news with his friends and colleagues.
Legacy of Tony De Meur and Ronnie Golden
Tony De Meur leaves behind a career that crossed two closely connected worlds: British rock music and alternative comedy. With The Fabulous Poodles, he helped create a band remembered for its unusual combination of musicianship, humor and theatrical performance.
As Ronnie Golden, he built a second identity on the comedy circuit and remained active for decades. His appearance in The Young Ones gave him a lasting television connection, while his work with Barry Cryer introduced him to generations of comedy audiences in live venues and at festivals.
Tributes following his death have reflected that broad career. Musical comedian Steve Gribbin described Golden as an excellent musician and comedian, while fellow performer Jenny Lecoat remembered knowing him for more than 40 years. Richard Vranch also recalled his talent as a performer and writer.
For fans who knew him from the Fabulous Poodles, he was a guitarist and frontman. For comedy audiences, he was Ronnie Golden, a musical performer with a distinctive stage presence. For colleagues such as Barry Cryer, he was a long-time creative partner. Those different parts of his career help explain why news of his death has generated tributes from both the music and comedy communities.
Wrap-Up
Tony De Meur, known professionally as Ronnie Golden, died at 78 after a career that stretched from British rock music in the 1970s to London’s alternative comedy scene and television. His work with The Fabulous Poodles, his appearance on The Young Ones and his long association with Barry Cryer remain among the best-known parts of his professional story.
As of September 28, 2026, his death has been publicly announced by his partner, Grace Carley, while some details surrounding the death remain based on reports rather than independently released medical or official records. Funeral and memorial information had not yet been publicly announced in the sources reviewed for this obituary.
Disclaimer
This obituary was prepared from publicly available reporting and published biographical information available as of September 28, 2026. Details that could not be independently verified, including the precise date discrepancy and reported medical cause of death, have been identified as such. Funeral arrangements and additional family information may be updated when reliable details are publicly released.
