Geoff Hinsliff obit

Geoff Hinsliff death: Coronation Street star dies aged 87 as Helen Worth leads tributes

Actor was best known for playing Don Brennan in soap 

He was not on the list.

Coronation Street star Geoff Hinsliff has died aged 87, the soap has confirmed.

Hinsliff, best known for playing the Don Brennan on the cobbles from 1987 to 1997, died this week.

Helen Worth, who plays Gail Platt on the long-running soap, said: “Geoff was a lovely, quiet man who will be sadly missed by us all.”

“His partnership with Lynne Perry was something rather special and they gave the viewers huge pleasure for many years.”

The actor played various different characters on the soap in 1963 and 1977 before securing his full-time role as Don, one of the most-remembered villains who plotted an attempted murder and kidnap.

During his decade on the soap, Hinsliff’s Don Brennan bought MVB motors from Mike Baldwin but started to resent him when the garage started losing money.

In a dramatic plotline, Don then kidnapped Mike’s wife Alma and drove their car into the canal, which they both survived. He later tried to murder Mike by attempting to run him over but the plan was foiled when Don’s car crashed into a viaduct and exploded.

Don married Ivy Tilsley, played by Lynne Perrie, and had an on-screen son called Brian.

Born in Leeds in 1937, Hinsliff went on to train at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts before embarking on a career in television, including stints on Doctor Who, Brass and Doctors. According to his IMDB page, the actor has not appeared in any television work since 2003, with his last project being appearing on a singular episode of Heartbeat.

He is survived by his wife, Judith E Seel, who he married in 1967, and their two children.

Fans have been sharing their condolences online, with one viewer writing: “He was such a great actor. It was amusing to see Don remember to limp on occasion after his leg was amputated in the show. Brilliant exit too, crashing his car into the viaduct. RIP Geoff.”

Actor

Nick Berry in Heartbeat (1992)

Heartbeat

6.9

TV Series

Walter Rawlins (as Geoff Hinsliff)

2003

1 episode

 

Doctors (2000)

Doctors

4.7

TV Series

Frank Cane (as Geoff Hinsliff)

2002

2 episodes

 

Dominic Monaghan and Patricia Routledge in Hetty Wainthropp Investigates (1996)

Hetty Wainthropp Investigates

7.6

TV Series

Gerald Hawkins (as Geoff Hinsliff)

1998

1 episode

 

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

Coronation Street

5.6

TV Series

Don Brennan

Eric Bailey

Vincent

1963–1997

740 episodes

 

Leslie Ash, Jill Gascoine, and Rosalyn Landor in C.A.T.S. Eyes (1985)

C.A.T.S. Eyes

6.4

TV Series

Charlie

1987

1 episode

 

Jeremy Child, James Faulkner, David Robb, and Tom Wilkinson in First Among Equals (1986)

First Among Equals

8.4

TV Mini Series

Albert Channing

1986

1 episode

 

Boon (1986)

Boon

6.4

TV Series

Station Officer Earnshaw

1986

1 episode

 

Juliet Bravo (1980)

Juliet Bravo

6.7

TV Series

Alan Fisher

1985

1 episode

 

Timothy West in Brass (1983)

Brass

8.0

TV Series

George Fairchild

1983–1984

26 episodes

 

Julie Dawn Cole in Angels (1975)

Angels

6.6

TV Series

Mr. Duxbury

1983

2 episodes

 

The Agatha Christie Hour (1982)

The Agatha Christie Hour

7.2

TV Mini Series

Colonel Kranin

1982

1 episode

 

Paul Greenwood in Rosie (1977)

Rosie

7.7

TV Series

Drunk

1981

1 episode

 

The Enigma Files (1980)

The Enigma Files

7.2

TV Series

George Wooderson

1980

1 episode

 

Going to Work (1961)

Going to Work

TV Series

Mr. Gibson

1980

1 episode

 

Jackanory (1965)

Jackanory

7.1

TV Series

Storyteller

1980

5 episodes

 

Paul McGann, Colin Baker, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, William Hartnell, Sylvester McCoy, Jon Pertwee, and Patrick Troughton in Doctor Who (1963)

Doctor Who

8.4

TV Series

Fisk

Jack Tyler

1977–1979

6 episodes

 

In a Country Churchyard

TV Mini Series

Moonshine Buck

1979

1 episode

 

Accident (1978)

Accident

7.7

TV Series

Cyril Edmunds

1978

5 episodes

 

Lewis Collins, Gordon Jackson, and Martin Shaw in The Professionals (1977)

The Professionals

8.0

TV Series

Sergeant

1978

1 episode

 

Ben Buckton and Andrew Ashby in The Battle of Billy's Pond (1977)

The Battle of Billy's Pond

6.6

Tanker Driver (as Geoff Hinsliff)

1977

 

General Hospital (1972)

General Hospital

7.5

TV Series

Dr. Peterson

1977

1 episode

 

A Bridge Too Far (1977)

A Bridge Too Far

7.4

British Wireless Operator

1977

 

I, Claudius (1976)

I, Claudius

8.8

TV Mini Series

Rufrius

1976

1 episode

 

Striker (1975)

Striker

8.7

TV Series

Mr. Dyker

1975–1976

8 episodes

 

Down the 'Gate (1975)

Down the 'Gate

6.7

TV Series

Dave the Landlord at 'The Lamb'

1976

3 episodes

 

The Shadow Line (1976)

The Shadow Line

6.2

1976

 

Couples

5.5

TV Series

Roy Oakley

1976

6 episodes

 

Play for Today (1970)

Play for Today

7.8

TV Series

Barry Raskin

Jimmy

1975–1976

2 episodes

 

Liz Goulding in Good Lad Terry (1975)

The Wild West Show

TV Series

Kenny

1975

1 episode

 

James Ellis and John Slater in Z Cars (1962)

Z Cars

7.1

TV Series

Dennis James

MacKinley

1963–1975

2 episodes

 

Churchill's People (1974)

Churchill's People

5.8

TV Series

Saxon soldier

1975

1 episode

 

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

Crown Court

7.3

TV Series

Det. Chief Insp. Lewis

Johnnie Bates

1973–1974

6 episodes

 

Ronald Pickup in The Dragon's Opponent (1973)

The Dragon's Opponent

TV Series

Sam

1973

1 episode

 

John Carlisle and John Woodvine in New Scotland Yard (1972)

New Scotland Yard

7.3

TV Series

Kenny Hall

1973

1 episode

 

Sam (1973)

Sam

8.1

TV Series

Edwin Archer

1973

1 episode

 

Malcolm McDowell in O Lucky Man! (1973)

O Lucky Man!

7.6

(as Geoff Hinsliff)

1973

 

After Loch Lomond

TV Movie

Geoff

1973

 

A Family at War (1970)

A Family at War

7.7

TV Series

Corporal Short

1970

1 episode

 

Ed Bishop in UFO (1970)

UFO

7.9

TV Series

Hotel Clerk

1970

1 episode

 

Tom Grattan's War (1968)

Tom Grattan's War

7.9

TV Series

Third Soldier (uncredited)

1970

1 episode

 

The Seventh Key

TV Movie

1969

 

Jack Warner in Dixon of Dock Green (1955)

Dixon of Dock Green

6.9

TV Series

Doctor

1969

1 episode

 

The Expert (1968)

The Expert

8.1

TV Series

Malcolm Crouch

1968

1 episode

 

For Amusement Only

TV Series

First Youth

1968

1 episode

 

Alfred Burke in Public Eye (1965)

Public Eye

8.5

TV Series

Johnny Pearman

1968

1 episode

 

Ann Lynn and Roy Marsden in Nothing to Lose (1967)

Escape

TV Series

Van Groot

1967

1 episode

 

Diane Cilento in Blackmail (1965)

Blackmail

7.9

TV Series

Lew

1966

1 episode

 

Robin Stewart in Softly Softly (1966)

Softly Softly

7.1

TV Series

Jerry Moston

1966

1 episode

 

Gerald Harper in Adam Adamant Lives! (1966)

Adam Adamant Lives!

7.0

TV Series

Parky

1966

1 episode

 

John Thaw in Redcap (1964)

Redcap

7.9

TV Series

Cpl. Ellis

1966

1 episode

 

Zodiac

TV Series

Mime Artist: Act Without Words II

1966

1 episode

 

The Wednesday Play (1964)

The Wednesday Play

7.5

TV Series

Gogel

1965

1 episode

 

Michael Aldridge and Leslie Sands in Cluff (1964)

Cluff

7.2

TV Series

Willie Gann

1965

1 episode

 

Earl Cameron, Lee Grant, and Fred Sadoff in The Respectful Prostitute (1964)

Festival

6.9

TV Series

Colin Thompson

1964

1 episode

 

Reginald Marsh, Barbara Murray, and Patrick Wymark in The Plane Makers (1963)

The Plane Makers

7.9

TV Series

'Hammy' Edmunds (as Geoffrey Hinsliffe)

1963

1 episode

 

Suspense (1962)

Suspense

5.6

TV Series

A.B. Cornstalk

1963

1 episode

 

The Spread of the Eagle (1963)

The Spread of the Eagle

6.5

TV Mini Series

Soldier

Menas

Clitus ...

1963

9 episodes