The former cast of Coronation Street now - from shameful sacking to addiction battles

On Friday, the sad news of 's death was shared by his publicist, the actor best known for his portrayal of Dennis Tanner in . Lowrie passed away at the age of 89, leaving a lasting legacy in .

Philip first appeared as Dennis Tanner in Coronation Street in 1960, when the show was still in its infancy. He became one of the iconic characters of the early years, known for his charm and quick wit.

Fans of the show have expressed sadness after hearing of his demise, with many remembering Dennis fondly as one of Coronation Street's most enduring early characters. One distraught fan took to social media, writing: “So sad to hear about the death of Philip Lowrie, who played Dennis Tanner in Coronation Street. He appeared in the very first episode of the show nearly 65 years ago.”

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His career with Coronation Street was far from short-lived. He initially appeared in 1960, staying on the show until 1968, and his character became deeply intertwined with the series’ early narrative.

Philip left the show in the late '60s, but in 2011, he made a triumphant return to Coronation Street, much to the delight of long-time fans. His return, after an absence of over 40 years, was celebrated by viewers, proving that his connection with the show remained strong throughout his life.

His return in 2011, alongside his on-screen mother, Elsie Tanner (played by the legendary actress Pat Phoenix), was a true moment of nostalgia. Even though Coronation Street bid farewell to Dennis in 2020, when he was written out of the show, his memory lived on.

Coronation Street has been gracing screens for over 60 years, introducing countless beloved characters, many of whom have left a mark on the show.

While some actors have gone on to achieve great success in new ventures, others have faced personal challenges or heartbreaking tragedies. Here’s a look at what happened to some of the iconic stars after they bid farewell to Weatherfield...

Bill Tarmey - Jack Duckworth

Bill Tarmey, who played Jack Duckworth for 30 years, passed away in 2012 after leaving the show due to health problems and the tragic diagnosis of his son’s brain tumour. His final scene, where Jack passed away in the same chair as his wife Vera, was a heart-wrenching moment for fans. Tarmey's legacy lives on in his beloved character.

Liz Dawn - Vera Duckworth

Liz Dawn, who portrayed Jack's wife Vera, left Coronation Street in 2008 because of her lung condition. She passed away in 2017 after battling emphysema. Liz was remembered as a kind and generous woman, with her onscreen relationship with Jack Duckworth being one of the most iconic in the show’s history.

Sarah Lancashire - Raquel Watts

Sarah was only supposed to be on the soap for three months when she joined in 1991, but she was brought back and ended up staying for half a decade.

In 1996, Raquel left her husband, Curly Watts, in tear-jerking scenes, which 20 million people watched while more than 22 million saw their wedding. She's gone on to star in an array of shows, most notably where she portrayed Sgt Catherine Cawood.

Kevin Kennedy - Curly Watts

Kevin Kennedy played the legendary Curly Watts for two decades. After leaving the soap in 2003, he launched an addiction recovery charity to help others with addictive and mental health disorders. Kevin set this up after dealing with his own recovery journey from alcohol addiction for 22 years.

Bruno Langley - Todd Grimshaw

The disgraced actor, who graced the Coronation Street set for 17 years, was given the boot from the iconic show after he sexually harassed two women, grabbing them by their private parts during a drunken spree in Manchester.

In court at Manchester Magistrates' Court back in December 2017, Langley admitted to battling alcohol issues and confessed there were times he couldn't recall events the morning after a night of heavy drinking.

Dodging a jail sentence, Langley received a 12-month "high-level" community order, was subjected to curfew via an electronic tag, required to register as a sex offender for five years, and ordered to pay £250 in compensation to each of the victims he assaulted.

He wept in the dock and later issued an unreserved apology to the women he groped on a night out in The Sunday .

William Roache - Ken Barlow

Ken Barlow is the longest remaining resident on the cobbles, having been in the show since its first episode. William Roache entered Wetherfield as a fresh-faced 18-year-old who has been part of some steamy love affairs over the decades.

When he was 91 years old, he was awarded an OBE by III for his services to acting. In fact, he holds the record for the longest-serving TV actor in a continuous role.

Away from work, the actor married Anna Cropper in 1961 and has two children together, Linus and Vanya.

William went on to marry Sara McEwan in the late 1970s and had two children with her, Verity James and Edwina, who sadly died at 18 months old.

Alan Rothwell as David Barlow

Alan portrayed the youngest son of Frank (Frank Pemberton) and Ida Barlow (Noel Dyson), making sporadic appearances on the soap during his tenure. He remained a fixture on the cobbles until 1968 when he departed to start afresh in with his wife Irma Ogden (Sandra Gough). His character met an off-screen demise when viewers were informed of his death in a car crash in 1970.

Since then, the 88-year-old has had an illustrious career, even featuring in rival soap . Alan took on three distinct roles in Emmerdale: a judge in 1993, a foster father in 1998, and an elderly gentleman in 2015. Most recently, the actor graced the short film Gods Guilty Conscience, the director's cut in 2021 and made several appearances on BBC's Doctors.

Anne Margaret Cunningham as Linda Cheveski

Anne portrayed the strong-willed daughter of Elsie Tanner on the cobbles, inheriting her mother's straightforward approach. She briefly left Weatherfield in 1961 to emigrate to Canada, but returned to the UK a year later.

Her relationship with her husband was tumultuous, leading to Linda's sporadic appearances on the soap, with her last one in 1984. After leaving the soap, the now 88-year-old continued her acting career, featuring in King of Bollywood, Henry Otter and the Nineteenth Hole. She is married to theatre director Darrol Blake, and they have three children together. The couple are believed to reside in London.

Read about the fates of other Coronation Street actors .

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