Wyllie Longmore (1940 – 4 January 2023) was a Jamaican-born British actor who appeared on Coronation Street[1] as Dr McKinnon and Love Actually as associate of the Prime Minister, played by Hugh Grant.[2]
Wyllie Longmore | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1940 |
| Died | (aged 82) |
| Education | Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama, Sidcup, Bexley, London |
| Known for | |
Early life
editWyllie Longmore was born in a small village in Jamaica in 1940 and moved to the United Kingdom in 1961 when he was 21.[2][3][4] Longmore trained at the Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama in Sidcup in the London Borough of Bexley, before moving to Manchester.[5] Longmore's father thought he was going to a teacher training college rather than an acting school.[2]
Death
editLongmore died of cancer on 4 January 2023, aged 82.[6][7][8][9]
Career
editStage
editAfter graduation Longmore joined the Leeds Theatre-in-Education Company, and through this met theatre director David Thacker who gave him his first stage role as the nobleman Ross in Macbeth performing at The Old Vic in Waterloo, London. However many of Longmore's stage performances were in Manchester, playing Cutler in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom at the Royal Exchange Theatre, and Antonio in The Merchant of Venice, and Jesse in I Just Stopped By To See The Man, both at Bolton Octagon.[2] He won two Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards for his stage acting,[2] winning an award for his performance in My Children! My Africa! by South African playwright Athol Fugard directed by Ian Forrest at the Octagon Theatre in 1995.[10] Longmore also set up The Arden Drama School in Manchester, set up in association with The Royal Exchange Theatre where he was Head of Acting at the school,[5] and until 1981 he taught in the Drama Department at Manchester University.[10]
Screen
editLongmore most famous screen role was on the soap opera, Coronation Street, starting in 1992, Longmore played Dr McKinnon, his character treated Don Brennan played by Geoffrey Hinsliff following Brennan's car accident.[3] He also had a role in Love Actually (2003) as the associate of the Prime Minister, played by Hugh Grant. As well as performing in Coronation Street and Love Actually, Longmore appeared in The Bill, Between the Lines, Casualty, Merseybeat, Waking the Dead and Cold Feet.[3]
Stage and Screen Performances
editStage
editActing
edit| Show | Role | Playwright | Year Performed | Theatre | Director | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Macbeth | Ross | William Shakespeare | The Old Vic in Waterloo, London | David Thacker | [2] | |
| Statements After an Arrest Under the Immorality Act | Athol Fugard | 1983 | Duke's Playhouse, Lancaster | [10] | ||
| My Children! My Africa! | Athol Fugard | 1995 | Octagon Theatre, Bolton | Ian Forrest | [10] |
Directing
edit| Show | Playwright | Year Performed | Theatre | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Raisin in the Sun | Lorraine Hansberry | Contact Theatre, Manchester | [10] |
References
edit- ^ "Wyllie Longmore dies at age of 82; All you need to know about 'Coronation Street', 'Love Actually' actor". The Economic Times. 6 January 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f "Theatre news: Wyllie Longmore, actor and Arden co-founder, dies at 82". British Theatre Guide. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ a b c McLoughlin, Lisa (6 January 2023). "Corrie star Wyllie Longmore dies aged 82 following cancer battle". Evening Standard. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ Gibb, Jessica; Leaver, Joel (6 January 2023). "Coronation Street actor Wyllie Longmore dies after cancer battle, daughter says". mirror. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ a b Chapman, Stephen (6 January 2023). "Royal Exchange leads tributes to actor Wyllie Longmore". Prolific North. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ Gibb, Jessica (6 January 2023). "Coronation Street and Love Actually actor Wyllie Longmore dies". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ Hallam, Katy (6 January 2023). "Coronation Street star dies after battle with cancer". BirminghamLive. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ Kitson, Calli (6 January 2023). "Corrie and Love Actually star Wyllie Longmore dies after cancer diagnosis". Metro. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ "Coronation Street's Wyllie Longmore dies aged 82". 6 January 2023.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ a b c d e "Wyllie Longmore | BBA Shakespeare". bbashakespeare.warwick.ac.uk. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
External links
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