Dean Sullivan
{{Short description|English actor (1955–2023)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Dean Sullivan
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth_date|1955|06|07|df=y}}
| birth_place = Liverpool, England
| death_date = {{death_date_and_age|2023|11|29|1955|06|07|df=y}}
| death_place =
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 1986–2023
| spouse =
| children =
}}
Dean Sullivan (7 June 1955 – 29 November 2023) was an English actor, best known for playing Jimmy Corkhill in the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside between 1986 and 2003.
Early life
Dean Sullivan was born in Liverpool on 7 June 1955.{{cite web |last=Bainbridge |first=Gary |url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/tm_headline=gary-stretch-1968-boxer&method=full&objectid=19693342&siteid=50061-name_page.html |title=Gary Stretch (1968-), boxer - Liverpool Local News - News |publisher=Liverpool Echo |date=28 August 2007 |access-date=16 March 2012 |archive-date=11 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011095438/http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/tm_headline%3Dgary-stretch-1968-boxer%26method%3Dfull%26objectid%3D19693342%26siteid%3D50061-name_page.html |url-status=dead}} 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. Sullivan 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 2003, he won the British Soap Award for Outstanding Achievement for his role as Jimmy.{{Cite news|url=https://www.whatsontv.co.uk/british-soap-awards/party-like-its-1999-recalling-the-first-british-soap-awards-320379/|title=Party like it's 1999 – Recalling the first British Soap Awards|work=What's on TV|access-date=25 January 2020|archive-date=25 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125211255/https://www.whatsontv.co.uk/british-soap-awards/party-like-its-1999-recalling-the-first-british-soap-awards-320379/|url-status=live}}
Sullivan organised "murder weekends" with his company, The Murder Game. In 2001, he appeared on Lily Savage's Blankety Blank.{{cite episode|series=Lily Savage's Blankety Blank|network=ITV|airdate=22 April 2001}} 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.
The purpose-built Brookside Close, which was created for Brookside, was sold in December 2008. Sullivan had wanted to buy the houses to revive the show,{{Cite news |date=2008-12-16 |title=Brookside homes to be auctioned |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7786583.stm |access-date=2024-11-18 |language=en-GB}} but they were sold to a different buyer.{{cite web|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/7787835.stm |title=UK | England | Merseyside | Brookside Close sold for £735,000 |publisher=BBC News |date=17 December 2008 |accessdate=16 March 2012}} In August 2011, he expressed interest in reprising his role as Jimmy Corkhill in other soap operas.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}
Sullivan had been due to star in a pantomime until shortly before his death. However, on 17 November 2023, it was announced that his forthcoming role as Fleshcreep in Jack and the Beanstalk at The Atkinson theatre in Southport would be taken over by Mark Paterson.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-17 |title=Mark Paterson replaces Brookside star Dean Sullivan in Jack and the Beanstalk panto in Southport |url=https://standupforsouthport.com/mark-paterson-replaces-brookside-star-dean-sullivan-in-jack-and-the-beanstalk-panto-in-southport/ |access-date=2024-01-28 |website=Stand Up For Southport |language=en-GB}}
Personal life and death
In August 2023, Sullivan announced that he had been privately battling prostate cancer since 2018.{{cite web|url= https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/brookside-legend-issues-health-announcement-27523863|title=Brookside legend issues health announcement and tells fans 'get it checked'|last=Rodger|first=James|work=Birmingham Mail|date=15 August 2023|access-date=16 August 2023}} He died on 29 November 2023, at the age of 68.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-67575906 |title= Dean Sullivan: Brookside actor dies aged 68 |work=BBC News| date=30 November 2023}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|0838029}}
{{British Soap Award for Outstanding Achievement}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sullivan, Dean}}
Category:Alumni of Lancaster University
Category:British Soap Award for Outstanding Achievement winners
Category:Deaths from prostate cancer in England
Category:English male soap opera actors
Category:Male actors from Liverpool
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