Coronation Street actress Debbie Rush has announced the death of her son, William, an actor known for roles in Grange Hill and Waterloo Road. He was 31. Rush, who played Anna Windass on the ITV soap, said William died on 17 December, describing her family's grief as 'unimaginable'.
In a statement on Instagram, Rush wrote: 'There are no words that can truly capture the depth of our loss.' She called him 'our beautiful baby boy' and said the family's hearts are 'completely broken'. She asked for privacy and did not disclose a cause of death.
Rush revealed that William was an organ donor, adding: 'He has given hope and life to other families, thinking of others right to the very end.' She said his kindness and love will forever be part of his legacy.
William played Ali Duncan in Grange Hill from 2005 to 2007 and Josh Stevenson in Waterloo Road from 2009 to 2013. He also had roles in Shameless, Vera, Casualty, and appeared on Coronation Street in 2014 alongside his mother. In 2016, he auditioned for The X Factor, reaching the third round.
Tributes from former co-stars included Sally Dynevor, Jack P Shepherd, Brooke Vincent, and Katie McGlynn, who described William as a 'very kind soul'. Rush has been married to husband Andrew since 1989, and William was one of their three children.
