# Geoffrey Hinsliff

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English actor (1937–2024)

Geoffrey Hinsliff Born (1937-11-23)23 November 1937 Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, England Died 15 September 2024(2024-09-15) (aged 86) Education Royal Academy of Dramatic Art Occupation Actor Spouse Judith Seal ​ (m. 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](/source/Don_Brennan_(Coronation_Street)) in *[Coronation Street](/source/Coronation_Street)* from 1987 to 1997.[1]

## Life and career

Hinsliff was born in [Leeds](/source/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](/source/Outward_Bound_(play))* by [Sutton Vane](/source/Sutton_Vane) at the Civic Theatre.[3]

Hinsliff trained at [RADA](/source/Royal_Academy_of_Dramatic_Art), before making his television debut in an episode of *[Z-Cars](/source/Z-Cars)*.[4] He went on to appear in *[Adam Adamant Lives!](/source/Adam_Adamant_Lives!)*, *[Dixon of Dock Green](/source/Dixon_of_Dock_Green)*, *[UFO](/source/UFO_(British_TV_series))*, *[Crown Court](/source/Crown_Court_(TV_series))*, *[The Professionals](/source/The_Professionals_(TV_series))* and *[Heartbeat](/source/Heartbeat_(British_TV_series))*, and also played a wireless operator in the film *[A Bridge Too Far](/source/A_Bridge_Too_Far_(film))*.[5][6]

In 1978 Hinsliff appeared as a sergeant in an episode of the hard-hitting British police drama *[The Professionals](/source/The_Professionals_(TV_series))*, the episode entitled *When the Heat Cools Off*.[7]

In 1979 he took the role of Doctor Astrov in [Anton Chekhov](/source/Anton_Chekhov)'s *[Uncle Vanya](/source/Uncle_Vanya)* at [Leeds Playhouse](/source/Leeds_Playhouse) directed by [Michael Attenborough](/source/Michael_Attenborough).[8]

Starting in 1987, Hinsliff appeared regularly on the British television soap opera series *[Coronation Street](/source/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](/source/Denise_Black)'s character Denise Osbourne to an attempted kidnapping of Alma Halliwell, portrayed by [Amanda Barrie](/source/Amanda_Barrie).[10] According to show broadcasters [ITV](/source/ITV_(TV_network)), his character's turbulent relationship with his wife Ivy, portrayed by [Lynne Perrie](/source/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](/source/Johnny_Briggs_(actor)).[12]

He also had a role in the comedy-drama *[Brass](/source/Brass_(TV_series))*[5] and appeared in two *[Doctor Who](/source/Doctor_Who)* stories: *[Image of the Fendahl](/source/Image_of_the_Fendahl)*[13] and *[Nightmare of Eden](/source/Nightmare_of_Eden)*.[14] He guest-starred in *[Holby City](/source/Holby_City)* as an alcoholic in 2010.[15]

## Personal life and death

Hinsliff married Judith Seal on 2 September 1967 in St Cecilia's Church, [Little Hadham](/source/Little_Hadham).[16] They had two children, including journalist [Gaby Hinsliff](/source/Gaby_Hinsliff).[17]

Hinsliff lived in [Winster](/source/Winster) in the Derbyshire Dales. He died on 15 September 2024, at the age of 86.[2]

## Selected filmography

- *[O Lucky Man!](/source/O_Lucky_Man!)* (1973)[9]

- *The Battle of Billy's Pond* (1976) – Tanker Driver[18]

- *[I, Claudius](/source/I%2C_Claudius_(TV_series))* (1976) – Rufrius[19]

- *[A Bridge Too Far](/source/A_Bridge_Too_Far_(film))* (1977) – British Wireless Operator[2]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Street fans hold their breath"](https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000769/19970418/004/0004). *Coventry Evening Telegraph*. England. 18 April 1997. Retrieved 18 April 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Guardian_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Guardian_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Guardian_2-2) ["Geoff Hinsliff obituary"](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/sep/20/geoff-hinsliff-obituary). *The Guardian*. 20 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["A young cast excels in Leeds play"](https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003150/19541216/051/0004). *Bradford Observer*. England. 16 December 1954. Retrieved 18 April 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Geoffrey Hinsliff — RADA"](https://www.rada.ac.uk/profiles/geoffrey-hinsliff/). *www.rada.ac.uk*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-bfi_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-bfi_5-1) ["Geoffrey Hinsliff"](https://web.archive.org/web/20201129052359/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba2dd1bf9). *BFI*. Archived from [the original](https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba2dd1bf9) on 29 November 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Geoffrey Hinsliff"](https://www.aveleyman.com/ActorCredit.aspx?ActorID=8022). *www.aveleyman.com*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_7-1) ["Corrie legend dies as ITV soap shares tribute"](https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/celebs-tv/coronation-street-legend-died-itv-9564705). *Derbyshire Live*. 19 September 2024. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0307-1235](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0307-1235). Retrieved 27 September 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Leeds"](https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001180/19790301/124/0021). *The Stage*. England. 1 March 1979. Retrieved 18 April 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_9-1) Hayward, Anthony (20 September 2024). ["Geoff Hinsliff obituary"](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/sep/20/geoff-hinsliff-obituary). *The Guardian*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0261-3077](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0261-3077). Retrieved 27 September 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Allen, George; Knox, Susan (19 September 2024). ["ITV Coronation Street legend who played Don Brennan dies as tributes pour in"](https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/celebs-tv/itv-coronation-street-legend-who-9564852). *Nottingham Post*. Retrieved 19 September 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Sherlock, Gemma (19 September 2024). ["Coronation Street star Geoffrey Hinsliff dies"](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyvg1yyg7ko). *BBC*. Retrieved 19 September 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** McLaughlin, Charlotte (19 September 2024). ["Coronation Street star Geoffrey Hinsliff dies aged 86"](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/itv-leeds-sophie-royal-rada-b2615570.html). *The Independent*. Retrieved 19 September 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Mulkern, Patrick. ["Image of the Fendahl"](https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2010-10-20/image-of-the-fendahl/). *[Radio Times](/source/Radio_Times)*. Retrieved 17 September 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Campbell, Mark; Newman, Kim (April 2011). [*Doctor Who: The Episode Guide*](https://books.google.com/books?id=idqQCwAAQBAJ&dq=%22Geoffrey+Hinsliff%22++-wikipedia&pg=PT89). Oldacastle Books. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-84243-660-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-84243-660-8).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Zena, Hawley (19 September 2024). ["Coronation Street legend has died and ITV soap shares tribute"](https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/celebs-tv/coronation-street-legend-died-itv-9564705). *Derbyshire Live*. Retrieved 19 September 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Mr. G. Hinsliff and Miss J.E. Seal"](https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003122/19670908/278/0016). *Herts and Essex Observer*. England. 8 September 1967. Retrieved 18 April 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Jessica, Sansome (19 September 2024). ["Coronation Street and Heartbeat star dies as Helen Worth leads tributes to 'lovely' actor"](https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/celebs-tv/coronation-street-heartbeat-star-dies-29964630). *Leeds Live*. Retrieved 19 September 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["Geoffrey Hinsliff"](https://mubi.com/en/cast/geoffrey-hinsliff). *MUBI*. Retrieved 27 September 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["I, Claudius"](https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/i-claudius/cast/1030180183/). *TVGuide.com*. Retrieved 20 September 2024.

## External links

- [Geoffrey Hinsliff](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0385911/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

- [Geoffrey Hinsliff](https://theatricalia.com/person/3e3/geoffrey-hinsliff) at Theatricalia

Authority control databases: Artists MusicBrainz

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Geoffrey Hinsliff](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Hinsliff) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Hinsliff?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.