Coronation Street actor Bryan Mosley died at the age of 67 after collapsing in a busy street in Shipley, West Yorkshire, just weeks after his final appearance on the world's longest-running soap opera.
Mosley, who played Alf Roberts on the cobbles for 38 years between 1961 and 1999, collapsed and died on February 9, 1999, moments after visiting a bank to arrange funds for an overseas trip, according to the Telegraph and Argus.
He had been with his wife Norma when he died, and Granada TV confirmed he was declared dead upon arrival at Bradford Royal Infirmary following a suspected heart attack.
Life and career
Born in Leeds, Bryan was the sole child of print worker Agnes Basquill and dye factory worker Jimmy Mosley. His passion for the stage emerged early in life, when aged 10, Bryan performed as the rear end of a cow in a Cinderella pantomime. At 13, the budding entertainer secured a scholarship to Leeds College of Art, where he studied from 1944 to 1946, after which he worked as a commercial artist.
He also found employment in a bookshop, as a drama teacher, and as a salesperson selling encyclopaedias door-to-door. Following national service in the RAF, in 1952, Bryan started training as an actor, and ultimately secured some substantial roles in television and film.
The Leeds-born actor won roles in the hard-hitting Northern films of the 1960s including A Kind of Loving, Charlie Bubbles, This Sporting Life, and most notably Get Carter, where he appeared opposite Michael Caine and met his demise being thrown from the top of a tower block by Caine's character.
His television work was equally impressive, with appearances in several popular shows including The Avengers, Dr Who, No Hiding Place, Z Cars, and The Saint.
Alf Roberts on Coronation Street
However, his most celebrated screen work remains the actor's enduring stint on Coronation Street as Alf Roberts. Bryan featured in an impressive 1,863 episodes of the world's longest-running soap and became a cherished favourite amongst viewers, portraying a grocer turned local councillor turned Mayor of Weatherfield. He joined the show mere weeks after its initial broadcast debut.
During his final years, as Bryan experienced heart problems in real life, his character Alf was, rather ironically, written out of Corrie through suffering a massive stroke and passing away. Die-hard Corrie fans would recall how Alf died at precisely eight minutes past midnight on New Year's Day - January 1, 1999, with revellers mistakenly believing his slumped form in the armchair was simply him dozing off, when tragically something far worse had happened.
More than 18 million viewers watched Bryan's final appearance on Coronation Street. The Herald had reported Bryan as saying at the time: "I am so disappointed that they did not phase me out gently. It was like 'crash, bang, you're out'. I do happen to feel Alf is a great loss to the Street and I think he will be missed. There was still a lot for him to do as a character."
Tragic death
On February 9, 1999, just weeks after his final Coronation Street appearance, Bryan Mosley collapsed and died in Shipley High Street, West Yorkshire. Bryan and his wife of 43 years, Norma, alongside a few of their six adult children, were due to travel to Venice during the same week of his unexpected death.
Telegraph and Argus reports that Steve Marshall, who operated a key cutting stall at the entrance to Shipley Market at the time, witnessed Bryan collapse as he pushed open the market door. Steve reportedly said: "I just heard a clatter and when I turned around he was on the floor. He didn't look well at all, very ashen and gaunt but he was still conscious and breathing. I went to help but there were people seeing to him already."
"So I came back in the market and one of the other stall holders phone an ambulance. He used to come in quite regularly and he was a really pleasant bloke. It's really sad."
Paramedics had attempted to resuscitate the actor without success, with his wife Norma reportedly present during his final moments. Following his death, the majority of his family had understandably been too upset to speak publicly. His eldest daughter Jackie Lambert said in a short statement: "We are mourning and grieving as a family in our own way."
"It was completely unexpected. It's come as a great shock to everyone. He was going to Venice Carnival and that was why he had gone to the bank. He had been really looking forward to it."
Bryan left behind his wife Norma, their three sons, three daughters, and six grandchildren.
Gone but not forgotten
The funeral service for the much-loved Bryan Mosley was attended by numerous members of the Coronation Street cast, including his on-screen wife Sue Nicholls, Helen Worth, Eileen Derbyshire, Bill Tarmey, Sally Whitaker, Denise Welch and Bruce Jones.
Bill Roache, who portrays Ken Barlow in the soap, said in a tribute: "We had hoped that after his retirement that Bryan would have had many more years with his family. He was a very good man and a great actor. He was a wonderful man who was a good friend and I loved him dearly."
According to the BBC, entertainer Ken Dodd gave a reading at the funeral and said: "He would have loved to see all these actors, entertainers and agents he has managed to pull into church on a Tuesday afternoon during licencing hours."
Julie Goodyear, who portrayed Bet Gilroy, stated: "Bryan was a very special man. A great mate and a fantastic colleague, with a great sense of humour. He was a total professional and a marvellous family man."
Liz Dawn, who played Vera Duckworth, added: "This is terribly, terribly sad. I will miss him greatly." While Betty Driver, alias Betty Williams, said: "He was a joy to work with. I have known him since I came into the programme and I loved working with him."
