United Kingdom (UK) actress Lynne Verrall, who played the role of Corrie in Coronation Street, has died aged 76 after a long illness.
This was revealed by his agent, Samantha Boyd, in an interview with The Sun.
“It is with great sadness that I can confirm the passing of Lynne Verrall, a long-time CAM customer.
“Lynne was a burst of sunshine in every room, her passion and dedication to the arts and the world around her was relentless.
“Lynne moved to Paris when she was 60 and threw herself into life there while returning to the UK to film several projects, most recently on the UK screen as the recurring role of Geraldine on Coronation Street.
“Lynne was diagnosed with MND in 2023 and faced her illness as she did her life with determination, resilience, humor and courage.
“She was imbued with a life force that is rare and contagious – the world is a slightly less interesting place now that she has left it,” the agent confirmed.
Verrall’s career in theater and television began in the 1950s and continued for decades.
Corrie fans will recognize her from her role as Geraldine Spellman, a role she took on in 2017. She appeared in 13 episodes over two years and was central to a storyline that shaped what happened next on the show.
Geraldine was the homophobic mother of Drew Spellman, who suffered from cancer.
When Drew learned why she didn’t have long to live, she chose to leave her adopted daughter, Summer Spellman, in the care of her ex-partner Billy Mayhew. Summer, played by Harriet Bibby, and Billy, played by Daniel Brocklebank, have remained key characters ever since.
Along with Corrie, Verrall also worked on EastEnders, Doctors and Vera. The announcement of his death was made on El Escenario, where his agent paid tribute to him.
Verrall was diagnosed with motor neurone disease after filming Greek Salad in 2023 and died earlier this month.
Her long-time friend Sue Dunderdale, who toured with her across the UK, spoke about how she handled the diagnosis.
She said: “She faced it with incredible courage. She was extraordinary. She stayed in Paris because she had been happy there.
“She created this wonderful persona of an eccentric, charming Englishwoman.”
“She was a fantastic actress, but she never got the recognition she deserved.” She said.
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