19 December 2023 , 08:32
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The funeral for late Brookside star Dean Sullivan takes place in his hometown of Liverpool later today (December 19).
Best known for his role as Jimmy Corkhill on the former Channel 4 soap, Sullivan passed away peacefully on November 29th aged 68. Now, his family have confirmed the ceremony will take place at Liverpool Parish Church (Our Lady And St Nicholas) at 12:20pm followed by a private cremation.
A statement from Hamilton Management and Sullivan’s family following his death said: "It is with deep sadness we must tell you that actor Dean Sullivan passed away on 29th November 2023 peacefully following a short illness. Dean is best remembered as the longest serving cast member of Channel 4’s groundbreaking 'Brookside' playing the role of ‘Jimmy Corkhill’, making Dean a British Soap icon. To millions he was and very much still is remembered as ‘Jimmy’, to family and friends he was 'Dino'."
Dean Sullivan's character Jimmy Corkhill arrived in Brookside close in 1986, and remained there until the show ended in 2003 (Channel 4)Sullivan joined Brookie in 1986 and remained there until the show's final episode in 2003 - with the face of Jimmy filling the final screen. At its peak, the Liverpudlian programme drew audiences of eight million, whilst a scene that saw Jimmy and Eddie Banks discover the body of Trevor Jordache under the latter's patio went down in soap history.
The actor, who also starred in BBC's Doctors and ITV's The Royal had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2018, which he discussed with the Liverpool Echo a year later after being given the all-clear following radiotherapy.
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However, he urged people to 'listen to their bodies' as he explained what his early symptoms felt like. Explaining that he'd noticed a change when urinating, he said: "The strength of my flow when I used to go to the loo to have a pee was reduced. The first time I went to the doctor's surgery he said, 'we'll just keep an eye on it and see how you go on'. It was a few weeks later, I just knew that wasn't right."
He added: "When I went back I saw a doctor who specialised in prostate treatment. He gave me a quick examination and within two weeks I was at the hospital speaking to the consultant. If I'd have listened to the first doctor, it might have been a different story so always trust your gut. 11 times out of 10, you're right. We've still got that fight or flight instinct," reports the Liverpool Echo.
Friends and famous faces paid tribute to Sullivan following his death, whilst Liverpool City Council described the news of his passing as "very sad", adding: "A passionate scouser and champion of our cultural scene, he’ll be greatly missed. Our sympathies to his family & friends."
A funeral notice, published in the Liverpool Echo, asked for donations, if desired, to be made to Prostate Cancer UK.
Brookside, the brainchild of Grange Hill creator Phil Redmond, launched in November 1982, with its houses situated in a real cul-de-sac – part of a housing estate in West Derby, Liverpool.
Sullivan later joined in 1986 and soon became a series regular due to the popularity of his character.
The show also launched the careers of dozens of high-profile actors, including Amanda Burton, Claire Sweeney and Anna Friel.
The last episode was filmed in September 2003 and aired in November of the same year – and it was Jimmy Corkhill’s face that last filled the screen.
Sullivan said at the time: “I will miss it but I won’t miss my life being completely controlled by my answer machine. It’s rather like being released from prison.
“Last week I started growing my sideburns and I’ve never been able to do that before.”
Friends and famous faces paid tribute to Sullivan following his death.
Liverpool City Council described the news of Sullivan’s death as “very sad”, adding: “A passionate scouser & champion of our cultural scene, he’ll be greatly missed. Our sympathies to his family & friends.”
Screenwriter Jonathan Harvey hailed the actor’s Brookside character as “iconic”.
Harvey, who is a writer for Coronation Street, tweeted: “I do love a soap icon, and they didn’t come more iconic than Jimmy Corkhill.”
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