Kenneth Cope obituary: Randall and Hopkirk and Coronation Street star dies
Kenneth Cope, the actor known for his roles in Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) and Coronation Street, has died aged 75.
Kenneth Cope died on Tuesday, his agent has confirmed. The actor, who was best known for playing Detective Sergeant Norman "Ming" Morley in the 1969-70 ITV series Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased), had been suffering from a long illness.
His other notable roles included Harry Clayton in Coronation Street (2017-2018) and Sam Pearson in the BBC drama series Early Doors (2003-2004). He also appeared in films such as The Full Monty (1997) and Calendar Girls (2003).
Tributes have been paid to Kenneth Cope from his former co-stars and friends.
James Bolam, who starred alongside Cope in Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased), said: "He was a lovely man and a wonderful actor."
Sue Johnston, who played Gloria Price in Coronation Street, said: "I'm very sad to hear about Kenneth's death. He was a great actor and a lovely man."
The official Coronation Street Twitter account tweeted: "We are deeply saddened to hear that Kenneth Cope has passed away. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time."
Kenneth Cope was born in Liverpool, England, on 14 April 1943.
He began his acting career in the early 1960s, appearing in small roles in television series such as Z-Cars and Dixon of Dock Green.
He came to prominence in 1969 when he was cast in the lead role of Detective Sergeant Norman "Ming" Morley in the ITV series Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased). The series was a huge success, and Cope's portrayal of the affable and witty detective made him a household name.
After Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) ended, Cope continued to appear in a variety of television and film roles. In the 1980s, he starred in the sitcom Only When I Laugh and the drama series Juliet Bravo. In the 1990s, he appeared in the films The Full Monty and Calendar Girls.
Copes later years, he continued to work regularly in television and film. In 2017, he joined the cast of Coronation Street as Harry Clayton, the father of established character David Platt. He left the soap in 2018, but returned for a brief guest appearance in 2020.
Kenneth Cope was a talented actor who brought joy to millions of viewers over the course of his long career. He will be sadly missed.
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