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Coronation Street and Mrs Brown’s Boys star Frank Grimes has died aged 78 following after a short illness.
It’s thought that the BAFTA winner and Tony Award nominee passed away on Friday August 1, surrounded by his family.
The Irish Cultural Centre in London announced his death in a heartfelt statement, declaring Grimes as ‘one of Ireland’s greatest actors.’
In a tribute, they said he was ‘so warm hearted, full of Dublin wit and charm in abundance and he had a beautiful sparkle in his eyes.
‘We know that Ireland has lost one of it’s truly great actors, the vintage of which is so rare and may never ever be matched again.
‘We are so sad to have to say goodbye to Frank, but we are also so blessed to have known him, to have worked with him and seen him perform.;
Coronation Street and Mrs Brown’s Boys star Frank Grimes has dead aged 78 following a short illness (pictured as Barry Connor in Coronation Street 2008)
It’s thought that he passed away on Friday August 1, surrounded by his family (The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes in 1991)
They continued: ‘We send our sincere condolences to his wife Ginnette, his daughter Tilly, his son Andrew, his seven grandchildren and to all his extended family.
‘We also send our condolences to all of Frank’s friends and loved ones – May Frank sleep easy now and Rest In Peace.’
Born in Cabra in 1947 s the youngest of seven children, he found early fame in play Borstal Boy in Dublin, before it transferred to London and Paris.
The show was such a success it headed to Broadway where Grimes received a Tony nomination and Most Promising Actor Award by the New York critics.
The actor played the role of Barry Connor, father of Rover’s barmaid Michelle [Kym Marsh] in Coronation Street for 50 episodes, between 2008 and 2015.
He also starred in Mrs Brown’s Boys as well as The Outsider and Blind Justice.
More to follow…
