Coronation Street legend Stephanie Cole dead at 84
Coronation Street legend Stephanie Cole passed away on Friday morning (18.09.26).
Coronation Street legend Stephanie Cole has died at the age of 84.
The actress, who played Sylvia Goodwin in the ITV soap from 2011 until 2013, lost her years-long battle with Alzheimer's disease on Friday morning (18.09.26), her agent John Grant confirmed.
A statement read: "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Stephanie Cole, OBE.
"She passed away this morning at the age of 84. Stephanie had been living with Alzheimer’s disease for some years.
"Stephanie was an extraordinary talent whose long and distinguished career included many iconic performances in theatre and television.
"She brought joy to millions through her many much-loved roles in sitcom and drama.
"She will also be remembered for her tireless work supporting mental health charities.
"During this incredibly difficult time, the family kindly requests privacy."
Tributes have poured in for Stephanie, whose other notable roles included Joan Norton, the aunt of Dr Martin Ellingham (Martin Clunes) in the ITV comedy-drama Doc Martin, and Mrs Delphine Featherstone in the BBC sitcom Open All Hours and Still Open All Hours.
One fan penned on X: "RIP Stephanie Cole, a superb actress in classics like Coronation Street and Doc Martin. RIP."
A supporter on Facebook typed: "What a sad loss to the acting industry. Great lady."
And another follower on the social media platform wrote: "So very sad xx what a wonderful lady. Brilliant actress. God bless x (sic)."
Born Patricia Stephanie Cole in Solihull, Warwickshire, on October 5, 1941, the star trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School from 1958 to 1960 before she worked in repertory theatres around the UK.
She made her stage debut aged 17, playing elderly medium Madame Arcati in Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit - she reprised the same role in 2004 when the play was revived at the West End's Savoy Theatre.
Stephanie was known for playing memorable older characters, and she rose to prominence as Dr Beatrice "Bea" Mason in the 1980s BBC drama, Tenko.
Also that decade, she became a familiar face in the corporation's sitcom Open All Hours, playing Mrs Delphine Featherstone, known as the "Black Widow" - a role she reprised in its reboot, Still Open All Hours.
Stephanie won the 1992 British Comedy Award for Best TV Comedy Actress for her role as pensioner Diana Trent in the BBC's 1990s sitcom, Waiting for God.
Later in her career, she played Joan Norton in the ITV comedy-drama Doc Martin, as well as Sylvia Goodwin, Roy Cropper's (David Neilson's) mum, in the broadcaster's soap, Coronation Street.
In 2005, she was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the late Queen Elizabeth's Birthday Honours List for services to drama, the elderly and mental health charities.
Stephanie was an Ambassador for the medical charity Overseas Plastic Surgery Appeal.
In 2006, she was voted Solihull's favourite Silhillian in a competition run by Solihull Council, beating The Office's Lucy Davis, 53, former Top Gear host Richard Hammond, 56, and 56-year-old retired rugby union player and coach, Martin Johnson.
In 1973, Stephanie married fight director Henry Marshall, and they welcomed a daughter named Emma that year.
The pair divorced in 1988, and Stephane went on to marry actor Peter Birrell 10 years later.
He passed away in 2004.
