Grant Richey, left, and Judy Heneghan as Martini & Olive. Photo by Tom Wallace.

Grant Richey, a character actor, director and theater teacher best known for being one-half of the comic holiday duo Martini & Olive, died early on Thanksgiving Day at home in Minneapolis.

He was 49.

Richey's death, announced on web postings by family and friends, came 10 years after he was diagnosed with colon cancer. He sometimes made light of his illness, saying, for example, that he wanted to write a play called "The Diarrhea of Anne Frank."

As he struggled with illness in recent months, Richey connected with family and friends through online sites such as Facebook and Caringbridges.org.

"Grant was a marvelous actor, a devastating wit and a generous, loving, brave soul," actor Steve Hendrickson posted on Facebook. "I give thanks I knew him."

Reared in Shawnee, Kan., Richey performed on most of the major stages in the Twin Cities, including the Children's Theatre, the Illusion Theater, Penumbra and the History Theatre.

He also did roles for Frank Theatre and the Paul Bunyan Playhouse. And he appeared on TV in commercials for such brands as Korbel champagne and Budweiser beer.

But his signature role was as Tony Martini, one-half of the horrible '70s lounge act that he performed with Judy Heneghan, who played Olive Heatherton. The pair also had a dance corps called the Swizzlestick Dancers.