Tony Little, the actor best known for his role in the original cast of Coronation Street, has died at the age of 88. Little played a minor role in the early episodes of the iconic British soap, which first aired on December 9, 1960.
Little's death was confirmed by his family, who said he passed away peacefully at his home in Cheshire. He was one of the last surviving members of the original cast, which included William Roache as Ken Barlow and Pat Phoenix as Elsie Tanner.
Coronation Street creator Tony Warren cast Little after seeing him in a stage production. Little appeared in several episodes during the show's first year, but his character was written out after a short time. He later worked in theatre and television, but never achieved the same level of fame as his co-stars.
Fans and colleagues have paid tribute to Little, remembering him as a talented actor and a kind man. A spokesperson for ITV said: 'Tony was a valued member of the Coronation Street family in its early days, and we are saddened to hear of his passing.'
Little is survived by his wife and two children. A private funeral will be held later this week.
