{{Short description|English actor (1937–2024)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Infobox person | name = Geoffrey Hinsliff | birth_date = {{birth date|1937|11|23|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Leeds]], [[West Riding of Yorkshire]], England | death_date = {{death date and age|2024|9|15|1937|11|23|df=y}} | occupation = Actor | education = [[Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]] | spouse = {{marriage|Judith Seal|1967}} | children = 2, including [[Gaby Hinsliff]] }}
'''Geoffrey Hinsliff''' (23 November 1937 – 15 September 2024) was an English actor best known for his portrayal of [[Don Brennan (Coronation Street)|Don Brennan]] in ''[[Coronation Street]]'' from 1987 to 1997.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Street fans hold their breath |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000769/19970418/004/0004 |newspaper=Coventry Evening Telegraph |location=England |date=18 April 1997 |access-date=18 April 2023 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }}</ref>
==Life and career== Hinsliff was born in [[Leeds]] on 23 November 1937.<ref name = Guardian>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/sep/20/geoff-hinsliff-obituary|title=Geoff Hinsliff obituary|work = The Guardian|date = 20 September 2024|accessdate = 20 September 2024}}</ref> In November 1954, aged sixteen, he appeared with the Leeds Service of Youth Players in a production of ''[[Outward Bound (play)|Outward Bound]]'' by [[Sutton Vane]] at the Civic Theatre.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=A young cast excels in Leeds play |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003150/19541216/051/0004 |newspaper=Bradford Observer |location=England |date=16 December 1954 |access-date=18 April 2023 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }}</ref>
Hinsliff trained at [[Royal Academy of Dramatic Art|RADA]], before making his television debut in an episode of ''[[Z-Cars]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rada.ac.uk/profiles/geoffrey-hinsliff/|title=Geoffrey Hinsliff — RADA|website=www.rada.ac.uk}}</ref> He went on to appear in ''[[Adam Adamant Lives!]]'', ''[[Dixon of Dock Green]]'', ''[[UFO (British TV series)|UFO]]'', ''[[Crown Court (TV series)|Crown Court]]'', ''[[The Professionals (TV series)|The Professionals]]'' and ''[[Heartbeat (British TV series)|Heartbeat]]'', and also played a wireless operator in the film ''[[A Bridge Too Far (film)|A Bridge Too Far]]''.<ref name=bfi>{{Cite web|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba2dd1bf9|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129052359/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba2dd1bf9|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 November 2020|title=Geoffrey Hinsliff|website=BFI}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aveleyman.com/ActorCredit.aspx?ActorID=8022|title=Geoffrey Hinsliff|website=www.aveleyman.com}}</ref>
In 1978 Hinsliff appeared as a sergeant in an episode of the hard-hitting British police drama ''[[The Professionals (TV series)|The Professionals]]'', the episode entitled ''When the Heat Cools Off''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=19 September 2024 |title=Corrie legend dies as ITV soap shares tribute |url=https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/celebs-tv/coronation-street-legend-died-itv-9564705 |access-date=27 September 2024 |work=Derbyshire Live |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}</ref>
In 1979 he took the role of Doctor Astrov in [[Anton Chekhov]]'s ''[[Uncle Vanya]]'' at [[Leeds Playhouse]] directed by [[Michael Attenborough]].<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Leeds |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001180/19790301/124/0021 |newspaper=The Stage |location=England |date=1 March 1979 |access-date=18 April 2023 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }}</ref>
Starting in 1987, Hinsliff appeared regularly on the British television soap opera series ''[[Coronation Street]]'' as Don Brennan.<ref name=":0" /> Hinsliff had previously appeared on one episode of the show in 1977 as a minor character named Eric Bailey.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Hayward |first=Anthony |date=20 September 2024 |title=Geoff Hinsliff obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/sep/20/geoff-hinsliff-obituary |access-date=27 September 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> 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]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Allen |first1=George |last2=Knox |first2=Susan |title=ITV Coronation Street legend who played Don Brennan dies as tributes pour in |url=https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/celebs-tv/itv-coronation-street-legend-who-9564852 |website=Nottingham Post |date=19 September 2024 |access-date=19 September 2024}}</ref> According to show broadcasters [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]], his character's turbulent relationship with his wife Ivy, portrayed by [[Lynne Perrie]], attracted praise and was generally well received by fans.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sherlock |first1=Gemma |title=Coronation Street star Geoffrey Hinsliff dies |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyvg1yyg7ko |website=BBC |date=19 September 2024 |access-date=19 September 2024}}</ref> 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 (actor)|Johnny Briggs]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=McLaughlin |first1=Charlotte |title=Coronation Street star Geoffrey Hinsliff dies aged 86 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/itv-leeds-sophie-royal-rada-b2615570.html |website=The Independent |date=19 September 2024 |access-date=19 September 2024}}</ref>
He also had a role in the comedy-drama ''[[Brass (TV series)|Brass]]''<ref name=bfi/> and appeared in two ''[[Doctor Who]]'' stories: ''[[Image of the Fendahl]]''<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mulkern |first1=Patrick |title=Image of the Fendahl |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2010-10-20/image-of-the-fendahl/ |website=[[Radio Times]] |accessdate=17 September 2020 |language=en}}</ref> and ''[[Nightmare of Eden]]''.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Campbell |first1=Mark |last2=Newman |first2=Kim |title=Doctor Who: The Episode Guide |date=April 2011 |publisher=Oldacastle Books |isbn=978-1-84243-660-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=idqQCwAAQBAJ&dq=%22Geoffrey+Hinsliff%22++-wikipedia&pg=PT89 |language=en}}</ref> He guest-starred in ''[[Holby City]]'' as an alcoholic in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zena |first=Hawley |date=19 September 2024 |title=Coronation Street legend has died and ITV soap shares tribute |url=https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/celebs-tv/coronation-street-legend-died-itv-9564705 |access-date=19 September 2024 |website=Derbyshire Live}}</ref>
==Personal life and death== Hinsliff married Judith Seal on 2 September 1967 in St Cecilia's Church, [[Little Hadham]].<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Mr. G. Hinsliff and Miss J.E. Seal |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003122/19670908/278/0016 |newspaper=Herts and Essex Observer |location=England |date=8 September 1967 |access-date=18 April 2023 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }}</ref> They had two children, including journalist [[Gaby Hinsliff]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jessica |first=Sansome |date=19 September 2024 |title=Coronation Street and Heartbeat star dies as Helen Worth leads tributes to 'lovely' actor |url=https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/celebs-tv/coronation-street-heartbeat-star-dies-29964630 |access-date=19 September 2024 |website=Leeds Live}}</ref>
Hinsliff lived in [[Winster]] in the Derbyshire Dales. He died on 15 September 2024, at the age of 86.<ref name = Guardian/>
==Selected filmography== *''[[O Lucky Man!]]'' (1973)<ref name=":1" /> *''The Battle of Billy's Pond'' (1976) – Tanker Driver<ref>{{Cite web |title=Geoffrey Hinsliff |url=https://mubi.com/en/cast/geoffrey-hinsliff |access-date=27 September 2024 |website=MUBI |language=en}}</ref> *''[[I, Claudius (TV series)|I, Claudius]]'' (1976) – Rufrius<ref>{{cite web |title=I, Claudius |url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/i-claudius/cast/1030180183/ |website=TVGuide.com |access-date=20 September 2024 |language=en}}</ref> *''[[A Bridge Too Far (film)|A Bridge Too Far]]'' (1977) – British Wireless Operator<ref name = Guardian/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|id=0385911}} * [https://theatricalia.com/person/3e3/geoffrey-hinsliff Geoffrey Hinsliff] at Theatricalia
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hinsliff, Geoffrey}} [[Category:1937 births]] [[Category:2024 deaths]] [[Category:Male actors from Leeds]] [[Category:People from Derbyshire Dales (district)]] [[Category:Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]] [[Category:English male soap opera actors]] [[Category:English male television actors]] [[Category:English male stage actors]] [[Category:English male film actors]] [[Category:20th-century English male actors]] [[Category:21st-century English male actors]] [[Category:Place of death missing]]