LONDON, Oct. 6 (UPI) -- British actor Matt Lucas has dropped out of the West End production of "Prick Up Your Ears" to mourn the death of his former civil partner.
Lucas is best known as one of the stars of TV's "Little Britain." He is currently working on new projects with his comedy partner David Walliams for the BBC and HBO.
Producers of the play Lucas is scheduled to headline until Dec. 6 told the BBC he will not return to the stage "until further notice."
In the play, Lucas portrays Kenneth Halliwell, who takes his own life after killing his playwright lover,
Joe Orton.
The actor's former companion, television producer Kevin McGee, was found hanged in his Edinburgh apartment Monday morning, police said, adding there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.
The BBC reported Lucas is said to be "utterly destroyed" by McGee's apparent suicide.
Lucas and McGee met in 2002 and exchanged vows in a civil union ceremony in December 2006. The couple broke up in September 2008.
