Alan Rothwell, Coronation Street icon and original cast member, dies aged 89

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Coronation Street actor Alan Rothwell has died at the age of 89, it has been confirmed.

The actor who played David Barlow, Ken Barlow’s younger brother, on the ITV soap opera since it began in 1960, passed away peacefully in hospital on Thursday, May 14th, after a brief illness. He appeared on the show until 1969.

A family statement said Rothwell will be “fondly remembered and deeply missed”.

Alan was a seasoned actor and director who worked in radio, television, film, and theater for over 70 years.

We are saddened to share that Alan passed away peacefully in the hospital after a brief illness. He was not only accomplished in his career, but also a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and uncle.

He was a beloved figure who will be greatly missed by his family, friends, coworkers, and all those who benefited from his work.

Born in Oldham, Lancashire in 1937, actor Peter Rothwell first became known for his part as Jimmy Grange on the radio drama The Archers. He then achieved his greatest success in 1960 when he joined Coronation Street.

The character of David Barlow on Coronation Street was created just for him because the show’s creator, Tony Warren, had known him since they both worked on the BBC’s Children’s Hour when they were young.

Unlike his arrogant brother Ken, this humble man became a football player, but his career ended early because of an injury.

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Roache expressed his sadness after learning of Alan Rothwell’s death, stating, “I was very sorry to hear about Alan.”

He shared that he and the actor worked together on the original episodes of Coronation Street, a period he fondly remembered. They became well-acquainted over the years, and he always appreciated his colleague’s talent and kind personality.

“I send my thoughts and condolences to his family.”

A Coronation Street representative shared that they were deeply saddened to learn of Alan Rothwell’s death and offered their heartfelt sympathy to his family.

He brought the character of David Barlow to life and will always be remembered as part of the show’s original lineup.

Besides playing various roles on Coronation Street, Rothwell was also famous for his portrayal of Nicholas Black in the Channel 4 soap opera in the 1980s.

I’ve seen this actor pop up in a lot of well-known shows over the years. Of course, there’s the usual soap opera work – Emmerdale, Casualty, and Heartbeat are all on his resume. But he’s definitely not limited to that! He’s also brought his talent to dramas like Queer As Folk, action-adventure in The Musketeers, and the charming world of All Creatures Great and Small. It’s a really versatile body of work.

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Molly MossTrends Writer

As a total film and TV buff, I always keep an eye on who’s writing about the stuff I love, and I recently came across Molly Moss. She’s a Trends Writer at TopMob, basically keeping everyone up-to-date on what’s hot in entertainment. She’s clearly a pro – she’s got a Master’s in Journalism and has written for some really big names like The Guardian, The Times, and The Sun Online. It’s cool to see someone with that kind of background covering the things I’m passionate about!

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2026-05-15 13:36