Bill Tarmey obit

'Coronation Street' Jack Duckworth actor Bill Tarmey dies, aged 71

The actor played Jack Duckworth on the soap from 1979 to 2010.

 He was not on the list.

Coronation Street actor Bill Tarmey has died in Tenerife at the age of 71.

Tarmey played Jack Duckworth on the soap from 1979 to 2010.

A family statement read: "The family of Bill Tarmey have confirmed that he sadly passed away this morning in Tenerife.

"They have respectfully asked the media for privacy as they grieve for a wonderful husband, father and brother."

A statement from Corrie added: "The cast, crew and production team at Coronation Street are devastated to hear of Bill's death.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with Bill's wife and soulmate Ali and their family at this very sad time."

The actor had previously suffered a minor heart attack following a bypass operation in 2002.

Meanwhile, Tarmey's former Corrie co-star Julie Goodyear told Digital Spy: "This news is so very sad - not just for me but for all his other friends and of course for his wife Ali, and all his family. This wonderful man will be sadly missed."

Cast members Bill Roache (Ken Barlow) and Tarmey's on-screen son Nigel Pivaro have been among the first to pay their respects.

Tarmey is survived by his wife Alma and their two children, Carl and Sara.

On filming his final scenes in 2010, Tarmey said: "It was delightful. And very moving. It was a case of, 'Pass the hand towel', never mind the box of tissues. I've become a right old Jessie in my old age."

Tarmey revealed in an interview earlier this year that he left Coronation Street two years ago to care for his son Carl, who had suffered a brain tumour.

Jack Duckworth was named Coronation Street fans' favourite ever character in May this year.

It was rumoured only last month that Jack and Vera Duckworth (Liz Dawn) would return to reprise their well-loved roles in a spoof segment for Children in Need.

Tarmey was born in Ardwick, Manchester, Lancashire. Shortly after his birth, he moved with his family to live in Bradford, Manchester, where he was also educated. Following the death of his father William in 1944 whilst driving an ambulance at the Battle of Arnhem during the Second World War, his mother Lilian remarried, to Robert Cleworth. Tarmey attended the Bradford Memorial School and the Queens Street School (which became the Philips Park Secondary Modern School). On leaving school, he was apprenticed to his stepfather, who was an asphalt spreader by trade. He also worked in the construction industry for a number of years.

In 1968, Tarmey gave up his job in the building industry to work as a nightclub singer and entertainer. In order to supplement his income, he took on work as an extra on shows such as Coronation Street, amongst others.

 

Actor

Peter Adamson, Jean Alexander, Johnny Briggs, Margot Bryant, and Doris Speed in Coronation Street (1960)

Coronation Street

5.6

TV Series

Jack Duckworth

1979–2010

1990 episodes

 

Debra Stephenson in Coronation Street: Pantomime (2005)

Coronation Street: Pantomime

7.2

TV Movie

Baron Hardup

2005

 

Coronation Street: Viva Las Vegas! (1997)

Coronation Street: Viva Las Vegas!

7.1

Video

Jack Duckworth

1997

 

ITV Telethon (1988)

ITV Telethon

6.4

TV Series

Jack Duckworth

1990

1 episode

 

Laurence Olivier in King Lear (1983)

King Lear

7.6

TV Movie

Bit part (uncredited)

1983

 

Dennis Blanch, Don Henderson, Mark McManus, Fiona Mollison, John Ronane, and Frances Tomelty in Strangers (1978)

Strangers

8.1

TV Series

A Villain

Alf

Squad Detective ...

1978–1982

5 episodes

 

Union Castle

TV Series

Trevor

1982

1 episode

 

Chintz

TV Series

Railway Porter

1981

1 episode

 

The Glamour Girls

TV Series

Bouncer

1980

1 episode

 

Play for Today (1970)

Play for Today

7.8

TV Series

Slaughterer (as Bill Tarmey)

1980

1 episode

 

The Danedyke Mystery (1979)

The Danedyke Mystery

7.1

TV Series

Workman (as Billy Tarmey)

1979

1 episode

 

ITV Playhouse (1967)

ITV Playhouse

6.9

TV Series

Tony

1979

1 episode

 

Don Henderson, Diane Keen, Peter Sallis, and Don Warrington in Crown Court (1972)

Crown Court

7.3

TV Series

Aide to Latcham

Jury Foreman

1976–1978

2 episodes

 

The XYY Man (1976)

The XYY Man

6.8

TV Series

Laidlaw's Staff Member (uncredited)

1977

1 episode