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Geoffrey Hinsliff (23 November 1937 – 15 September 2024) was an English actor best known for his portrayal of Don Brennan in Coronation Street from 1987 to 1997.[1]
Geoffrey Hinsliff | |
|---|---|
| Born | 23 November 1937 Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, England |
| Died | 15 September 2024 (aged 86) |
| Education | Royal Academy of Dramatic Art |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Spouse |
Judith Seal (m. 1967) |
| Children | 2, including Gaby Hinsliff |
Hinsliff was born in Leeds on 23 November 1937.[2] In November 1954, aged sixteen, he appeared with the Leeds Service of Youth Players in a production of Outward Bound by Sutton Vane at the Civic Theatre.[3]
Hinsliff trained at RADA, before making his television debut in an episode of Z-Cars.[4] He went on to appear in Adam Adamant Lives!, Dixon of Dock Green, UFO, Crown Court, The Professionals and Heartbeat, and also played a wireless operator in the film A Bridge Too Far.[5][6]
In 1978 Hinsliff appeared as a sergeant in an episode of the hard-hitting British police drama The Professionals, the episode entitled When the Heat Cools Off.[7]
In 1979 he took the role of Doctor Astrov in Anton Chekhov's Uncle Vanya at Leeds Playhouse directed by Michael Attenborough.[8]
Starting in 1987, Hinsliff appeared regularly on the British television soap opera series Coronation Street as Don Brennan.[7] Hinsliff had previously appeared on one episode of the show in 1977 as a minor character named Eric Bailey.[9] Brennan's storylines on the show ranged from on and off again extramarital affairs with Denise Black's character Denise Osbourne to an attempted kidnapping of Alma Halliwell, portrayed by Amanda Barrie.[10] According to show broadcasters ITV, his character's turbulent relationship with his wife Ivy, portrayed by Lynne Perrie, attracted praise and was generally well-received by fans.[11] Hinsliff was eventually written off the show in 1997, when his character Don Brennan died in a car crash shortly after kidnapping Alma Halliwell and attempting to murder her then-husband Mike Baldwin, a business rival of Brennan who was himself portrayed by Johnny Briggs.[12]
He also had a role in the comedy-drama Brass[5] and appeared in two Doctor Who stories: Image of the Fendahl[13] and Nightmare of Eden.[14] He guest-starred in Holby City as an alcoholic in 2010.[15]
Hinsliff married Judith Seal on 2 September 1967 in St Cecilia's Church, Little Hadham.[16] They had two children, including journalist Gaby Hinsliff.[17]
Hinsliff lived in Winster in the Derbyshire Dales. He died on 15 September 2024, at the age of 86.[2]
- O Lucky Man! (1973)[9]
- The Battle of Billy's Pond (1976) – Tanker Driver[18]
- I, Claudius (1976) – Rufrius[19]
- A Bridge Too Far (1977) – British Wireless Operator[2]
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