Coronation Street and Kes star, comic Duggie Brown, has died aged 82.
Brown first came to public attention in Ken Loach’s 1969 cinema classic Kes, in which he appeared as a milkman alongside his sister Lynne Perrie, who played the lead character’s mother. He also appeared in Granada TV’s long-running live comedy show The Comedians, which gave a platform to some of the best-known stand-up comics of the 70s, including Russ Abbott, Jim Davidson and Bernard Manning.
Brown appeared as Joe Badger in the BBC’s acclaimed, pre-Netflix trilogy based of the Michael Dobbs novel House of Cards and its sequels, and as Ray Piper in 11 episodes of Brookside in the 90s. He would take on a total of three roles in Coronation Street over the course of his career, most recently as Ted Spear, who died after Faye Windass hit him in a car accident during this New Year’s drunk driving storyline.
Brown debuted in Corrie as George Freeman in 1997, and returned to the show to play Honor Blackman’s character, Rula Romanoff’s husband Bernie in 2004.
The Rotherham-born comic and actor’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.”
