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Geoffrey Hinsliff

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Geoffrey Hinsliff
Born(1937-11-23)23 November 1937
Died15 September 2024(2024-09-15) (aged 86)
EducationRoyal Academy of Dramatic Art
OccupationActor
Spouse
Judith Seal
(m. 1967)
Children2, including Gaby Hinsliff

Geoffrey Hinsliff (23 November 1937 – 15 September 2024) was an English actor best known for his portrayal of Don Brennan in Coronation Street from 1987 to 1997.[1]

Life and career

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Hinsliff was born in Leeds on 23 November 1937.[2] In November 1954, aged sixteen, he appeared with the Leeds Service of Youth Players in a production of Outward Bound by Sutton Vane at the Civic Theatre.[3]

Hinsliff trained at RADA, before making his television debut in an episode of Z-Cars.[4] He 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.[5][6]

In 1978 Hinsliff appeared as a sergeant in an episode of the hard-hitting British police drama The Professionals, the episode entitled When the Heat Cools Off.[7]

In 1979 he took the role of Doctor Astrov in Anton Chekhov's Uncle Vanya at Leeds Playhouse directed by Michael Attenborough.[8]

Starting in 1987, Hinsliff appeared regularly on the British television soap opera series Coronation Street as Don Brennan.[7] Hinsliff had previously appeared on one episode of the show in 1977 as a minor character named Eric Bailey.[9] Brennan's storylines on the show ranged from on and off again extramarital affairs with Denise Black's character Denise Osbourne to an attempted kidnapping of Alma Halliwell, portrayed by Amanda Barrie.[10] According to show broadcasters ITV, his character's turbulent relationship with his wife Ivy, portrayed by Lynne Perrie, attracted praise and was generally well-received by fans.[11] Hinsliff was eventually written off the show in 1997, when his character Don Brennan died in a car crash shortly after kidnapping Alma Halliwell and attempting to murder her then-husband Mike Baldwin, a business rival of Brennan who was himself portrayed by Johnny Briggs.[12]

He also had a role in the comedy-drama Brass[5] and appeared in two Doctor Who stories: Image of the Fendahl[13] and Nightmare of Eden.[14] He guest-starred in Holby City as an alcoholic in 2010.[15]

Personal life and death

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Hinsliff married Judith Seal on 2 September 1967 in St Cecilia's Church, Little Hadham.[16] They had two children, including journalist Gaby Hinsliff.[17]

Hinsliff lived in Winster in the Derbyshire Dales. He died on 15 September 2024, at the age of 86.[2]

Selected filmography

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References

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  1. ^ "Street fans hold their breath". Coventry Evening Telegraph. England. 18 April 1997. Retrieved 18 April 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  2. ^ a b c "Geoff Hinsliff obituary". The Guardian. 20 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  3. ^ "A young cast excels in Leeds play". Bradford Observer. England. 16 December 1954. Retrieved 18 April 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. ^ "Geoffrey Hinsliff — RADA". www.rada.ac.uk.
  5. ^ a b "Geoffrey Hinsliff". BFI. Archived from the original on 29 November 2020.
  6. ^ "Geoffrey Hinsliff". www.aveleyman.com.
  7. ^ a b "Corrie legend dies as ITV soap shares tribute". Derbyshire Live. 19 September 2024. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  8. ^ "Leeds". The Stage. England. 1 March 1979. Retrieved 18 April 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. ^ a b Hayward, Anthony (20 September 2024). "Geoff Hinsliff obituary". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  10. ^ Allen, George; Knox, Susan. "ITV Coronation Street legend who played Don Brennan dies as tributes pour in". Nottingham Post. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  11. ^ Sherlock, Gemma. "Coronation Street star Geoffrey Hinsliff dies". BBC. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  12. ^ McLaughlin, Charlotte. "Coronation Street star Geoffrey Hinsliff dies aged 86". The Independent. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  13. ^ Mulkern, Patrick. "Image of the Fendahl". Radio Times. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  14. ^ Campbell, Mark; Newman, Kim (April 2011). Doctor Who: The Episode Guide. Oldacastle Books. ISBN 978-1-84243-660-8.
  15. ^ Zena, Hawley (19 September 2024). "Coronation Street legend has died and ITV soap shares tribute". Derbyshire Live. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  16. ^ "Mr. G. Hinsliff and Miss J.E. Seal". Herts and Essex Observer. England. 8 September 1967. Retrieved 18 April 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  17. ^ Jessica, Sansome (19 September 2024). "Coronation Street and Heartbeat star dies as Helen Worth leads tributes to 'lovely' actor". Leeds Live. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  18. ^ "Geoffrey Hinsliff". MUBI. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  19. ^ "I, Claudius". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
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