Coronation Street legend dead - as tributes paid to actor who starred in ITV soap for a decade

Coronation Street Wedding: 1988 Don Brennan (Geoffrey Hinsliff) marries Ivy Tilsley (Lynne Perrie)
-Credit: (Image: Granada Television)


The ITV soap Coronation Street have confirmed that actor Geoffrey Hinsliff has died at the age of 87. Geoffrey was best known for playing Don Brennan on the cobbles from 1987 to 1997. IHe had previously played other characters in Corrie in 1963 and 1977 before he got his full-time role. The actor's death was confirmed by the soap and tributes have already started pouring in.

Helen Worth, who plays Gail Platt, said: “Geoff was a lovely, quiet man who will be sadly missed by us all. His partnership with Lynne Perry was something rather special and they gave the viewers huge pleasure for many years.” During his ten years playing Don Brennan on the soap, Geoffrey was given multiple storylines including attempted murder and kidnap - making him one of the most iconic villains of the cobbles.

Geoffrey Hinsliff
Actor Geoffrey Hinsliff has passed away -Credit:No credit

Most notably, he kidnapped Mike Baldwin's (Johnny Briggs) wife Alma Haliwell (played by Amanda Barrie) and drove their car into the canal. Despite both surviving, Don tried to run over Mike but he was killed off when his car crashed into a viaduct and exploded.

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Don also had multiple relationships before his demise, after his first wife Pat died in 1981, he enjoyed a relationship with Ivy (Lynne Perrie). They were happy together for a few years but he left her in 1991 as she failed to make him a priority.

Geoffrey was born in Leeds in 1937 and is said to have grown up with a love for performing. He kicked off his acting career at the Leeds Service of Youth Players in a production of Outward Bound by Sutton Vane at the Civic Theatre in Leeds in November 1954.

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Coronation Street Don Brennan and Mike Baldwin
Coronation Street's Don was killed trying to take down sinister Mike Baldwin -Credit:Johnny Briggs

Geoffrey's television debut came when he starred in an episode of classic cop drama Z-Cars. He then went on to appear in Adam Adamant Lives!, Dixon of Dock Green, UFO, Crown Court, The Professionals and Heartbeat, and also played a wireless operator in the film A Bridge Too Far.

The actor later had a role in the comedy-drama Brass and appeared in two Doctor Who stories: Image of the Fendahl and Nightmare of Eden before guest-starring in Holby City as an alcoholic in 2010.

Geoff is survived by his wife, Judith E Seel, who he married in 1967, and their two children. His daughter Gabrielle Hinsliff is a journalist and columnist for The Guardian.

Don and Ivy Brennan
Geoffrey Hinsliff and his on-screen wife Lynne Perrie -Credit:ITV