Coronation Street stars’ deaths in 2026 from soap legend to Platt family member actor

Several Coronation Street cast members and crew have died in 2026, including a beloved Platt family actor and a veteran director

The world of Coronation Street has been struck by a series of heartbreaking losses over the past 12 months.

Since the beloved ITV soap – created by Tony Warren – first graced our screens back in December 1960, audiences have been captivated by a vast array of talented actors who have made their mark on the iconic cobbles of the fictional town of Weatherfield.

Sadly, recent months have seen a number of familiar faces pass away. From a beloved Platt family actor to a director who dedicated over two decades to the show, here are all the Coronation Street stars we have mourned so far in 2026.

Michael Byrne

In June, much-loved actor Michael Byrne passed away at the age of 82. He was best remembered for his role as Gail Platt’s (Helen Worth) long-lost father Ted Page, a character who re-entered his daughter’s life after 50 years, having come out as gay and discovering that Audrey (Sue Nicholls) had given birth to his daughter, reports the Daily Star.

Michael had the honour of giving Gail away at her wedding to Joe McIntyre (Reece Dinsdale), before the character was written out of the soap for good in 2021 when he was killed off.

Beyond Weatherfield, the talented actor also carved out a notable role in the Harry Potter franchise, appearing as Gellert Grindelwald in Deathly Hallows Part 1 in 2010. His impressive CV also included Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies, 1995’s Braveheart, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and Gangs of New York.

Kay Patrick

Last month, director Kay Patrick passed away at the age of 84. She directed more than 250 episodes of the beloved ITV soap after joining in 1994, staying for 21 years.

In one interview, she reflected: “I was lucky to be there at such extraordinary times.”

Her passing was publicly announced on Wednesday, June 24, with her funeral held on Monday. Mourners were asked to “leave the formal back clothes at home,” as “Kay would have wanted everyone to dress for comfort!” No cause of death has been revealed.

Alan Rothwell

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Alan Rothwell, who portrayed Ken Barlow’s brother David throughout the 1960s, passed away in May aged 89. He first appeared on the iconic ITV soap as a regular cast member when it launched in 1960, before making occasional appearances in 1963 and 1964, then returning as a regular until 1968.

Alan also took on roles in Brookside as Nicholas Black during the mid-Eighties, as Mike in the ITV spy drama Top Secret in the early Sixties, and featured in various parts in the Noughties BBC One soap Doctors.

Sadly, his death was confirmed in May. The soap’s Instagram account shared a black and white photograph of Alan in character as David, stating he will be “forever remembered” as one of the first actors to grace the screen when the show first aired in December 1960.

Paul Seed

An individual with short brown hair dressed in formal attire is smiling and appears to be engaged in conversation. The background shows partially visible figures, suggesting a group setting.

Paul Seed passed away in March at the age of 78. Best remembered on Coronation Street for his portrayal of Father Harris, he appeared in the beloved soap between 1979 and 1981.

During his stint on the show, he presided over the wedding of Helen Worth’s character Gail and Christopher Quinten’s Brian Tilsley.

The character also conducted the christening of their son Nick Tilsley at the fictional St. Boniface Church in Lower Broughton, the real-life Salford suburb that featured prominently in the opening titles for many years.

The Guardian reports that Devon-born Paul succumbed to cancer on 7 March, aged 78, and is survived by his wife Elizabeth Cassidy, whom he met while working on the BBC police drama Z Cars, along with their two sons, Jack and Sean.

Angela Pleasence

An older gentleman with a white beard and a woman with long hair are standing close to each other, smiling and posing for a photograph against a plain white background.

Angela Pleasence, daughter of acting legend Donald and his wife Miriam Raymond, passed away in April at the age of 84. She took on the role of Monica Sutton in ITV’s Coronation Street in 1968, with Monica being introduced as a free-spirited hippie who established a commune at No. 11 alongside her companions.

Angela’s subsequent television credits included The Possessed, The Expert, Casualty, The Bill, and Doctor Who, in which she portrayed Queen Elizabeth I, as well as the Doctor Who spin-off, The Sarah Jane Adventures.