Original Coronation Street star Alan Rothwell dies aged 89
Original Coronation Street star Alan Rothwell dies aged 89
Alan Rothwell, who played David Barlow in Coronation Street's original cast, has died aged 89 after a short illness. Tributes pour in for the long-time TV actor.
Alan Rothwell, born in Oldham, was among the first generation to bring Coronation Street to life when the ITV soap began in 1960. He played David Barlow, the brother of Ken Barlow, for nine years until 1969, a role created with him in mind by Tony Warren. The character helped anchor the show's early family dynamics and became a familiar presence to households tuning in from the outset.
Rothwell's TV career extended beyond Coronation Street. He later appeared in Gideon's Way and The Villains, and in the 1980s he joined Brookside as Nicholas Black, broadening his experience beyond the cobbles. He was also a familiar face on children's television, presenting Picture Box and Hickory House, programmes that introduced generations of youngsters to the screen.
Tributes followed news of his passing, with colleagues recalling his warmth and professionalism. William Roache, who played Ken Barlow, remembered him as a good actor and a delightful man, and a spokesperson for Coronation Street offered sincere condolences to his family. His family described him as a loving husband, father, grandfather and uncle, expressing that he will be fondly remembered and deeply missed. Rothwell’s career, spanning theatre, radio and television, marked a formative era for British television, and his early work on Coronation Street helped establish the show as a long-running national staple.
