Roberto Alfonso Farrell (6 October 1949 – 30 December 2010)[1] was an Aruban dancer, visual performer, singer and DJ.
He was a member of the 1970s R&B group Boney M.[2] Farrell was born and raised on the Caribbean island of Aruba in the Dutch colony of Curaçao and Dependencies (later known as the Netherlands Antilles).
[3] After Farrell left the group in 1981, due to clashes with Farian, his voice was genuinely recorded for the first time on the double A-side single We Kill the World/Boonoonoonoos.
[4] He was replaced by Reggie Tsiboe, while Farrell attempted a solo career; however, he rejoined in 1984 and continued as a member until the final split in 1986.
[8] His agent, John Seine, said Farrell had complained of breathing problems and of a heavier pain in his chest than ever after performing with his band the prior evening.
[11] Coincidentally, he died on the same date and in the same city as Grigori Rasputin, the subject of one of his group's most iconic songs and whom he had dressed as in some live performances.
In season 6, episode 5 ("Demon 79") of the television series Black Mirror, British actor Paapa Essiedu portrayed Farrell through the character of Gaap, a demon who takes the likeness of Farrell as he appeared on stage in the group Boney M. during a performance of the song "Rasputin".