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| birth_name =
| birth_name =
| birth_place = [[Liverpool]], England
| birth_place = [[Liverpool]], England
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1955|06|07}} Died 29th November 2023
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1955|06|07}}
| occupation = Actor, director
| occupation = Actor, director
| years_active = 1986–present
| years_active = 1986–present

Revision as of 07:53, 30 November 2023

Dean Sullivan
Born (1955-06-07) 7 June 1955 (age 69)
Liverpool, England
Occupation(s)Actor, director
Years active1986–present

Dean Sullivan (born 7 June 1955) died 29 November 2023 is an English actor and director, best known for playing Jimmy Corkhill in the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside between 1986 and 2003.

Early life

Sullivan was born in Liverpool on 7 June 1955.[1] He graduated from Lancaster University with a B.Ed. (Hons) and was a primary school teacher for six years before becoming an actor. He continued to work as a substitute teacher between roles before Brookside became his full-time job.

Career

Sullivan was a member of Liverpool's Epstein Theatre (at that time named the Neptune Theatre) and appeared in the Willy Russell play Breezeblock Park and the Phil Redmond play Soaplights at the Liverpool Playhouse. He joined Brookside in February 1986 and remained with the programme until it ended in November 2003, featuring in many of its most popular storylines during that time. In 1994, he offered to resign from the series when reading in his scripts that his character was to take ecstasy; he reportedly urged producers to kill his character off in an attempt to warn youngsters about the dangers of taking drugs, but his offer was rejected.[citation needed][dubiousdiscuss] In 2003, he won the British Soap Award for Outstanding Achievement for his role as Jimmy.[2]

Sullivan has organised "murder weekends" with his company, The Murder Game. In 2001, he appeared on Lily Savage's Blankety Blank.[3] In 2008, he appeared in the sitcom Terry Across the Mersey, and presented a daily show on City Talk 105.9 from the Radio City Tower until May 2009. However, after Ofcom ruled that City Talk would also be allowed to play music, he was dropped from the schedule. Recently,[when?] he took part in a protest against violence in Liverpool as part of a march organised by charity Term Time.[citation needed]

Sullivan was keen to buy Brookside Close, the purpose-built street which was created for the series and was later sold in December 2008, as he wanted to revive the show. However, the houses were sold to a different buyer.[4] In August 2011, he expressed interest in reprising his role as Jimmy Corkhill in other soap operas.

Personal life

In August 2023, Sullivan announced that he had been privately battling prostate cancer since 2018.[5]

References

  1. ^ Bainbridge, Gary (28 August 2007). "Gary Stretch (1968-), boxer - Liverpool Local News - News". Liverpool Echo. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
  2. ^ "Party like it's 1999 – Recalling the first British Soap Awards". What's on TV. Archived from the original on 25 January 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  3. ^ Lily Savage's Blankety Blank. 22 April 2001. ITV.
  4. ^ "UK | England | Merseyside | Brookside Close sold for £735,000". BBC News. 17 December 2008. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
  5. ^ Rodger, James (15 August 2023). "Brookside legend issues health announcement and tells fans 'get it checked'". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 16 August 2023.