Even while they continue to evoke laughter with the recent premiere of the fifth season on local TV, Ellis International, producers of the popular Ity & Fancy Cat Show, are in the throes of mourning with the recent passing of family patriarch Leslie Ellis and his brother Irving. Leslie and Irving are elder brothers of music legends Alton Ellis and Hortense Ellis.

Leslie Ellis, who died on Monday, May 21 at Sunnybrook Hospital, in Toronto, after a brief battle with lung cancer, was the father of comedians Owen "Blakka" Ellis and Ian "Ity" Ellis who, along with their musician brother Aston "Robot" Ellis, are the directors of Ellis International, producers of the Ity & Fancy Cat show.

comedies

The company has also produced award winning comedies like 'Tings a Gwaan' and 'Un' as well as a host of stand-up comedy shows such as 'International Comedy fest', 'Backyaad Crack-up' - which was held every month for three years, and the annual 'Christmas Comedy Cook-up' which will have its ninth staging this December.

The Ellis family was in the middle of planning the funeral service for Leslie when his younger sibling Irving Ellis passed away on Friday, June 1, in Miami, succumbing to Leukaemia. Irving (also called 'Niney' after he lost a thumb in a violent attack), was a gifted musician and singer.

He played on the Jamaican north coast as a steel pan player and cabaret singer in the 60s and 70s before settling in Florida. Leslie was a tailor and retired singer/songwriter who performed and recorded with his famous brother as a member of Alton & the Flames.

Final rites for Leslie Ellis will be held on Thursday, June 7, 2012 in Canada.