Coronation Street and Last of the Summer Wine star Duggie Brown dies aged 82
Coronation Street and Last of the Summer Wine star Duggie Brown has died aged 82.
He first found fame in Ken Loach's 1969 film Kes, based on Barry Hines' novel, making him one of the most well-known comedians of his generation.
He also appeared in ground-breaking comedy programmes The Comedians and The Wheeltappers And Shunters Social Club.
Most recently the Rotherham-born comedian and actor played the role of Ted Spear in Coronation Street.
Paying tribute to her "team mate and best friend" Brown's wife Jackie said her husband had a sudden onset illness which left him in "such pain".
She said: "It is with the deepest sorrow and sadness, that my best friend of 50 years, The Love Of My Life, my husband for 40 years, the talented comedian, actor, singer, and musician and King of The Grand Order Of Water Rats, for the past three years Duggie Brown, has passed away in the early morning, with me by his side.
"He has suffered such pain in the past 4 and a half weeks, with a sudden onset illness, and fought like a warrior to stay with me, but it was not to be...
"To see him out of pain, and no longer suffering, is the only blessing.
"I will miss him for the rest of my life, he was my whole life, my heart is broken into a million pieces.
"The love we shared will go on for eternity, we will be together again of that I am certain.
"Until then, fly high my darling funny man, you deserve a special place in Heaven...wait for me at the gates.
"Your 'team mate' and best friend. Jackie"
Brown's death was confirmed by his manager Lee Morgan, who tweeted: "It is with a heavy heart I share the news the very talented Comedian & Actor Duggie Brown passed away this morning with his wife Jackie by his side.
"What an honour it was to work with Duggie. A born entertainer who loved his profession. RIP Duggie Brown. We love & salute you."
Brown's career spanned more than five decades, with the stalwart of comedy, documentaries and dramas appearing in All Creatures Great And Small, Heartbeat, Hotel Babylon, EastEnders, Holby City and My Brother’s Keeper.
In 2002 he starred alongside Martin Clunes and Keeley Hawes in the thriller A Is For Acid, based on the life of serial killer John George Haigh.
He also played the Fool in Shakespeare’s King Lear for the Northern Broadsides Theatre Company’s national tour, and starred in We Are Three Sisters based on Anton Chekhov’s novel exploring the lives of the Bronte sisters.
In recent years he took on the role of Mr Boo in Jim Cartwright’s comedic play The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice, and appeared as himself in a live show of The Comedians to celebrate the 40-year anniversary of the hit show.
Other notable credits include The Enchanting World Of Hinge And Bracket, Peak Practice, Common As Muck, Doctors, and Brookside.
British comic Tommy Cannon also tweeted: “Really sad to hear about the passing of Duggie Brown, Rest in peace pal, what a funny funny man – thinking of all your friends and family.”
Actor Neil Hurst said it was a “sad day”.
He tweeted: “Beyond sad to hear that my ol’ pal Duggie Brown has passed away.
“One of my very first telly jobs was with Duggie back in 1997 and I was lucky to appear in so many shows with him since. Genuinely one of the nicest and funniest guys in the business.”
He was the brother of Coronation Street actress Lynne Perrie, who shot to fame playing Ivy Tilsley for 15 years and who died in 2006.
Brownwas inducted into the Grand Order of Water Rats charitable organisation and in 2020 took on the title King Rat.