Scottish actor Vincent Friell has passed away at the age of 64, his agent has confirmed today.

The Glasgow-born actor carved out a career on stage and on the big and small screen, starring in Trainspotting, Still Game, Tough Love and Taggart. Friell was, however, primarily known for his role as one half of a criminal highwayman duo in 1985 comedy Restless Natives - widely regarded as one of the great Scottish movies.

Brennan Artists, who represent Friell, said in a statement: "It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our friend and client, Vincent Friell, who died unexpectedly in  hospital with his family around him on Sunday 14th April.

"Above all, Vince was an incredibly loving father, husband and friend and we send our love at this difficult time to his wife Alana and 2 children Connie and Jude. We ask that they are given the privacy to come to terms with this very sad loss."

Friell shot to fame as the Wolfman in Restless Natives, which became a cult classic in the mid 80’s.

The story of two Edinburgh lads who become local folk heroes and tourist attractions when they start holding up tour busses with toy 'guns' in a spree of non-violent robberies.

Joe Mullaney played the Clown to Friell's Wolfman, with the soundtrack written and performed by Scottish band Big Country.

Vincent also starred in a classic series 5 episode of Still Game titled ‘Whos the Daddy’, starring as the estranged 'son' who was trying to take over Jack and Victor's beloved Clansman.

His character Chris saw the Clansman temporarily renamed Jenny’s and was later unmasked as Pete the Jakey’s long lost child. Friell also starred in the world-famous Trainspotting in 1996, playing the father (or flatmate) of Ewan McGregor’s love interest Diane.

Tributes poured in from colleagues from across the industry and fans, who largely spoke of Friell's iconic Wolfman role.

Writer of Restless Natives, Ninian Dunnett, told The Herald it was 'a blessing' to discover a young talent like Friell during the Eighties in Scotland.

He said: “I think we’re all rocked by this tragic news. We were just youngsters when we made Restless Natives – and so was Vince – but we were blessed that we found him among all the unknown actors who read for us."

Alongside the original director, Michael Hoffman, Dunnett is currently on an upcoming stage show based on the film, set to tour Scotland next Spring, and says it's sad knowing Vincent won't be around to experience it.

"There was a kind of stubborn innocence in those big brown eyes that I know even today people still think of as the lovable spirit of the film. Vince has been in our minds a lot because we’ve been working on this new revival, and I’m desperately sorry to think that he won’t be with us for the fun and celebrations next year."

The Herald:

In 2005, Restless Natives was re-released on DVD, and included an interview with Friell talking about the role which was his first feature film.

Vincent described his characters story as a ‘fantasy come true’.

He said: “I wonder what people will think when they look back on this film and see the 80’s style and fashions. It was such a strange and bizarre time. Now it’s not just the film you’re watching, you’re going back in time and seeing these styles and fashions. Thankfully none of those clothes were mine.

“It’s great that the film is out again, because there has been a lot of people over the years telling me they couldn’t get a copy because the video had been deleted.

“It is a lovely feeling knowing that 21 years later that there is maybe a whole new generation who are going to be seeing it.

"I hope it stays around for many more years so it can become a nice novelty factor that there was this whacky little Scottish film made in 1984 and it is still lasting the course of time.”