William Rush Dead at 31: Aimee Lou Wood and More Pay Tribute

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The British acting world is mourning a tragic loss. 

Actor William Rush, who was known for his role in the TV series Waterloo Road, passed away on December 17th, according to his mother, Debbie Rush. He was 31 years old.

Debbie shared on Instagram on December 18th that her family is devastated and heartbroken, saying no words could express how much they’re grieving.

The former Coronation Street actor – who has two other children, Tom and Poppy, with her husband Andrew Rush – said the family was able to find something positive “even during a very difficult time.”

She continued, saying that William gave the greatest gift imaginable. By becoming an organ donor, he offered hope and a new chance at life to other families, showing his selfless care for others until the very end. His generosity and love will always be remembered as part of who he was.

Debbie requested privacy for herself and her family while they grieve, and did not disclose details about how he died.

“William will always be loved,” she wrote, “always missed, and forever in our hearts.”

Lots of Debbie and William’s friends and colleagues shared loving messages and expressed their sympathy in the comments on her Instagram post.

Debbie’s Daddy Issues costar Aimee Lou Wood wrote, “I am so so sorry. Sending you all my love.”

Matty Healy’s mother, Denise Welch – an actress who worked with William on Waterloo Road – shared her own tribute, saying, “He was a joy. I’m so sorry, Debbie.”

Karen David, who also appeared on Waterloo Road, shared, “Debbie, I was so shocked and heartbroken to hear about your son.”

It was a joy and a delight to be on set with your wonderful son,” she shared. “He’ll be greatly missed, and I’m sending all my love and hoping for peace and healing for everyone.

Let me tell you about William! He’s a Manchester native, born on July 6th, 1994, and really honed his skills at the Manchester School of Acting. He started getting his feet wet in the industry with a small role on Shameless back in 2007, and then did a bunch of guest spots on popular shows like Grange Hill and Casualty. It was especially sweet when he even got to act alongside his own mother on Coronation Street! But his real big break? That came when he landed the role of Josh Stevenson on Waterloo Road, a part he played from 2009 to 2013. It was a fantastic opportunity for him and really put him on the map.

After departing from his previous show, he decided to pursue a singing career and auditioned for The X Factor in 2016. He successfully made it through the initial rounds, reaching the six-chair challenge – one of the later stages where contestants compete for a spot on the live shows.

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2025-12-19 23:22