The comedy performers, writers and actors who died this year January Terry Jones, Python. 77. Here are some favourite anecdotes about him. Johnny Carroll, the Birmingham-born star of 1970s show The Comedians who later fell on hard times, 78. Nicholas Parsons, the former straightman to Arthur Haynes and Benny Hill, who hosted Radio 4's Just A Minute since its inception in 1967, 96. Here are just some of his screen appearances. Jack Burns – the former comedy partner of George Carlin who went on to co-create the Muppet Show, 86 February Kellye Nakahara, who played Lieutenant Nurse Kellye Yamato on M*A*S*H, 72. Sweet Steve, one of the quirkier characters on London’s open mic comedy scene