Brookside star Dean Sullivan has died at the age of 68.
Sullivan, who was best known for playing Jimmy Corkhill on the long-running Channel 4 soap, passed away following a short illness, his agent has said.
Confirming the sad news, Hamilton Management said: “It is with deep sadness we must tell you that actor Dean Sullivan passed away on 29th November 2023 peacefully following a short illness.
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"To millions he was and very much still is remembered as 'Jimmy', to family and friends he was 'Dino'. Dean's family wants to thank Arrowe Park Hospital for their unwavering and consistent support. We ask that you respect their privacy in their time of grief.”
Sullivan starred in Brookside from 1986 to 2003 and was involved in many of the show’s major storylines over the years, including discovering the body of his neighbour Trevor Jordache (Bryan Murray) under the patio after being murdered by his wife and daughter.
The actor had been set to appear in Jack And The Beanstalk in Southport from 7 December, but pulled out on 17 November due to 'unforeseen circumstances'.
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The Atkinson Theatre, where Sullivan was set to perform for three weeks in the run up to Christmas, said: “There has been a change to the line-up for this year’s Jack and the Beanstalk pantomime.
“Dean Sullivan will no longer be performing in the role of Fleshcreep, as previously advertised and the role will now be played by Mark Paterson.”
Sullivan had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2018 and was discharged by his consultant last year following radiotherapy treatment.
In an interview with the Liverpool Echo in August, he opened up about his diagnosis - telling the publication: “The way I dealt with it was that I just sort of put myself in the hands of fate. If this was my time, then this was my time so I was quite philosophical about it really.
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“I know that people would worry themselves into an early grave as it were but I'm not that sort of person, I try to keep positive about things and I just got on with my life.”
Sullivan said he felt something wasn’t right so visited his doctor, where he was told to monitor his symptoms.
However, he went to another doctor a few weeks later which led to his diagnosis.
Urging others to listen to their bodies, Sullivan added: “If I'd have listened to the first doctor, it might have been a different story so always trust your gut, 11 times out of 10, you're right, we've still got that fight or flight instinct.”
Featured Image Credit: Channel 4/Steve Finn/Getty Images