Dean Sullivan: Brookside actor dies aged 68

UK: Actor Dean Sullivan has died at the age of 68, his family has confirmed.

Sullivan was best known for his portrayal of Jimmy Corkhill in the Channel 4 soap Brookside between 1986 and 2003.

The actor had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2018.

In a statement, Sullivan’s family said they were announcing with “deep sadness” that the actor “passed away peacefully following a short illness”.

“Dean is best remembered as the longest serving cast member of Channel 4’s groundbreaking Brookside playing the role of Jimmy Corkhill, making Dean a British soap icon.

“To millions he was and very much still is remembered as ‘Jimmy’, to family and friends he was ‘Dino’.”

It continued: “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 was born and educated in Liverpool, and starred in Brookside when the show was at its peak, regularly drawing audiences of eight million.

In 2003, Sullivan won the British Soap Award for outstanding achievement for his role as Jimmy in the Mersey TV soap, having played the role for 17 years.