RalphC Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 Actor Bill Tarmey, who played Jack Duckworth in ITV soap Coronation Street, has died. Tarmey, 71, left the soap in 2010, after more than 30 years on the show. His family confirmed to ITV that he died in Tenerife on Friday morning, asking for "privacy as they grieve for a wonderful husband, father and brother". A statement from Coronation Street said the cast, crew and production team were "devastated" to learn of his death. It continued: "Our thoughts and prayers are with Bill's wife and soulmate Ali and their family at this very sad time." A life-long heavy smoker, Tarmey suffered a minor heart attack following a bypass operation in 2002. He left Coronation Street to care for his son Carl, who was battling a life-threatening brain tumour. He told ITV Granada, earlier this year: "If this hadn't happened they would've had to drag me out of there screaming. It was a wonderful bloody job, especially for an old coffin-dodger". The actor was reunited with on screen wife Vera, played by Liz Dawn, for his emotional finale from the soap. She had left the show two years before when Vera died in the same armchair as Jack, but Jack's final scenes showed her appearing at his side and saw the pair dancing together, as he drifted in and out of consciousness. Coronation Street cast members have been paying tribute on Twitter, with Antony Cotton who plays Sean Tully, writing: "Goodnight Bill Tarmey. You were the best. We'll miss you so much x" Charlie Condou, who plays Marcus Dent, said: "I am devastated to hear that the wonderful Bill Tarmey has died. "He was a beautiful, funny and lovely man, and he will be missed by us all." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hookey Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 Very sad, RIP Bill (Jack) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horace Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 RIP Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhodes Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 I see that Bill Tarmey's on screen wife Liz Dawn (Vera Duckworth) suffered a heart attack at her home in Manchester, lets hope she is going to be okay. It may have been the shock of hearing about Bill Roach (Ken Barlow) that brought it on as they are very close, it's not right that all these tv stars are now paying an unfair price for what they may or may not have done 30, 40 or 50 years ago when the seaside-postcard and Carry On film culture was happily accepted: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2319275/Coronation-Street-favourite-Liz-Dawn-rushed-hospital-suffering-heart-attack.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.