- Dean Sullivan, known as Jimmy Corkhill on “Brookside,” dies at 68
- Longest-serving Brookside actor
- Sullivan promoted cancer screening
His family has confirmed the death of actor Dean Sullivan at the age of 68.
From 1986 to 2003, Sullivan’s most recognizable role was that of Jimmy Corkhill on the Channel 4 serial opera Brookside.
In 2018, the actor received a prostate cancer diagnosis.
Andrew Sullivan’s family issued the following statement: “With profound sorrow, we inform you that the actor passed away peacefully after a brief illness.”
“Dean became a British soap opera icon with his portrayal as Jimmy Corkhill on Channel 4’s groundbreaking Brookside, for which he served as the longest-tenured cast member.
He was and continues to be remembered by millions as “Jimmy,” but his family and friends referred to him as “Dino.”
Dean’s family wishes to express their gratitude to Arrowe Park Hospital for their consistent and steadfast support.
We kindly request that you honour their privacy during this period of sorrow.
Sullivan, who was born and raised in Liverpool, rose to prominence with his performance in Brookside, which routinely attracted eight million viewers.
Sullivan was honoured with the British Soap Award for Outstanding Achievement in 2003 for his seventeen-year tenure as Jimmy on the Mersey TV soap opera.
Brookside Legacy
Brookside, an estate in West Derby, Liverpool, was established in November 1982 and featured residences in a genuine cul-de-sac. It was the brainchild of Grange Hill creator Phil Redmond.
O’Sullivan’s character was a participant in one of the most renowned plotlines of the soap opera.
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Jimmy Corkhill and Eddie Banks observed uncovering the remains of Trevor Jordache beneath a patio. Jordache had been assassinated by his ex-wife Mandy (portrayed by Sandra Maitland), who had been abusive to her and their daughter Beth (performed by Anna Friel) for years.
Two months after the final episode was filmed in September 2003 and debuted, Jimmy Corkhill’s visage was the last to appear on-screen.
Tributes and Legacy
On social media, playwright Jonathan Harvey was among those who paid tribute to Sullivan.
Harvey wrote on X/Twitter, “I do adore a soap icon, and they don’t come more iconic than Jimmy Corkhill.”
“What miserable news. My thoughts and feelings are with his large circle of friends and family.
George Christopher, who portrayed Ziggy in Grange Hill and Little Jimmy, the troubled son of Jimmy Corkhill, remarked, “My portrayal as Jimmy’s troubled son was highly demanding; I learned so much from him in every scene.
“He excelled precisely when it came in Brookside; he was a natural actor.” Simply put, Jimmy is irrelevant to Brookside; without him, Brookside would not exist. Respectful condolences. Honouring Deano.”
Tricia Penrose, who recently filmed Celebrity Antiques Roadtrip with Andrew Sullivan and portrayed a police officer in Brookside during the late 1980s and early 1990s and who previously appeared in Heartbeat, added: “I am devastated to hear this dreadful news. An actor from the serial opera and a legend of Brookside.”
Multi-Talented Career
Jimmy was the longest-serving character on Brookside; of all the actors who appeared in episodes, Sullivan filmed the most.
He also managed his own flourishing theatre production company while being a prolific stage actor and director.
He appeared in the critically acclaimed North West theatre tour of Alan Bennett’s one-person monologue Chip in the Sugar and starred in Stand Up! The Musical opposite Lionel Blair.
Sullivan hosted Citytalk’s daily hour-long live radio talk show The Sullivan Show in Merseyside for years. Sullivan also appeared as a guest presenter on ITV’s This Morning.
He also performed in Dick Whittington, Aladdin, Peter Pan, and Cinderella pantomimes.
Cancer Advocacy
Sullivan discussed his cancer diagnosis and urged the public to undergo screening for the disease in an interview with the Liverpool Echo earlier this year.
He stated that he visited the doctor because “the strength of my flow was diminished when I used to use the lavatory to urinate.”
“When I first visited the doctor’s office, he advised that we should simply monitor your condition and assess your progress.” A few weeks later, I became immediately aware that something was amiss.
“When I returned, I visited a physician who specialized in prostate treatment,” he continued. Two weeks after undergoing a brief examination by him, I was at the hospital engaging in conversation with the consultant.
“Had I followed the advice of the initial physician, the outcome might have been different; therefore, you should always follow your intuition. On eleven out of ten occasions, you are correct… As is the case with numerous types of cancer, early detection and treatment are feasible.
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