Kenneth Cope: Randall and Hopkirk and Coronation Street star dies
Kenneth Cope, the British actor and writer famous for his role in the detective television series Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased), has passed away at the age of 93.
In a message from his representative, it was shared that Cope "died quietly in his sleep" on Wednesday, surrounded by his wife and family.
In Randall and Hopkirk, Cope portrayed Marty Hopkirk, a character who is killed but comes back as a spirit.
Originally aired in 1969 and 1970, the program gained a dedicated fanbase and was revitalized in 2000 by Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer.
Cope made an appearance in Coronation Street, portraying the character Jed Stone, and was also a member of the Carry On team.
The announcement made by his representative referred to Cope as a “born comedic performer.”
The statement went on to say that Cope, who was a proud resident of Liverpool, was a devoted fan of Everton Football Club.
"We are heartbroken by his loss and kindly request that his family be allowed some privacy during this difficult time. He is survived by his devoted wife, Renny Lister, along with his children, Nick, Mark, and Martha."
Cope started his journey in acting on stage before landing various parts in movies and TV shows.
He also appeared in productions such as Brookside, That Was The Week That Was, Doctors, The Bill, Truckers, and Last of the Summer Wine.
Cope portrayed the character Jed Stone in 128 episodes of Coronation Street from 1961 to 2009.
He played the character Ray Hilton in the show Brookside, appearing in 171 episodes from 1999 to 2002.
Michael Starke, known for his role as Sinbad in Brookside, collaborated with Cope on the soap opera in the late '90s. He referred to Cope as a true gentleman.
He remarked, “We shared several scenes, and I recall him being a kind person. He never spoke harshly to anyone and was consistently very generous. I thought highly of him.”
Cope also played prominent parts in Carry On at Your Convenience (1971) and Carry On Matron (1972).
