19 December 2023 , 09:46
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Soap fans were left heartbroken when news of Brookside legend Dean Sullivan's death was announced in late November.
The 68-year-old's friends and family paid tribute to the award-winning actor, who took on the role of Jimmy Corkhill in the Channel 4 soap from 1986 to 2003. At the time, a statement from his management and family was released, saying: "It is with deep sadness we must tell you that actor Dean Sullivan passed away on November 29, 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's family wants to thank Arrowe Park Hospital for their unwavering and consistent support. We ask that you respect their privacy in their time of grief." Dean's funeral is set to take place today (Tuesday 19 December) at 1pm in Liverpool Parish Church, followed by a private cremation.
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Cancer Diagnosis
The funeral takes place on December 19 (Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)The actor previously revealed he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2018 and was discharged by his consultant last year after a course of radiotherapy. Following his death, a funeral notice shared in the Liverpool Echo invited people to donate to Prostate Cancer UK. However, his cause of death has not been confirmed and his agent said he died following a 'short illness'.
When he was first diagnosed, he urged people to "listen to their bodies" as he shared his early symptoms. He explained to fans that he noticed a change when urinating. Dean 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," theLiverpool Echo reported at the time.
At the time, he said that early detection was the key to his successful treatment, going on to urge others to get checked out if they displayed the same symptoms. His sister was also diagnosed with breast cancer.
Treatment and All-Clear
He was diagnosed with cancer in 2018In 2019, he chatted to the Mirror about his choice to undergo HDR (high dose rate) brachytherapy to treat the disease. The treatment involved having thin tubes inserted into the gland before targeted radiation is passed down through the tubes to pinpoint and kill the cancer cells.
"It was a bit uncomfortable, but you put up with it," the actor explained at the time. "I was back at home in a couple of hours and didn’t dwell on it – it was an essential part of my cancer journey. I then met up with friends locally to see in the New Year... wearing a kilt…"
Speaking about his diagnosis, Dean said he was "shell-shocked". He said: "I remember being a bit shell-shocked really, because even though we know these days that one in three of us will be diagnosed with cancer of some sort, you never think it will be you."
Following 20 rounds of chemotherapy, Dean was given the all-clear in 2019.