Coronation Street star Geoff Hinsliff dead: Legend who played Don Brennan passes away aged 87 as co-star Helen Worth leads tributes

Coronation Street star Geoff Hinsliff has died aged 87, the soap has confirmed.

Geoffrey, who was best known for playing Don Brennan on the cobbles from 1987 to 1997, died earlier this week.

Helen Worth, who plays Gail Platt, said: ‘Geoff was a lovely, quiet man who will be sadly missed by us all.

‘His partnership with Lynne Perry was something rather special and they gave the viewers huge pleasure for many years.’

Geoff originally featured in the iconic soap in 1963 and 1977 as different characters before he returned in 1987 for his decade long stint as Don. 

Geoff originally featured in the iconic soap in 1963 and 1977 as different characters before he returned in 1987 for his decade long stint as Don (pictured in 1996) 

Throughout his 10 years on the cobbles Don became one of the show’s most remembered villains after featuring in a huge storyline including kidnap and attempted murder. 

Don bought MVB motors from Mike Baldwin, but then started to resent him when the garage went bankrupt. 

In a dramatic turn of events he then murdered Mike’s wife Alma and drove their car into the canal, however despite the odds they both survived. 

Don later tried to run Mike over but met his bitter end when his car crashed into a viaduct and exploded. 

Geoff was born in Leeds in 1937 and trained at RADA where he graduated in 1960 before he made his TV debut in an episode of Z-Cars.

He went on to appear in Adam Adamant Lives!, Dixon of Dock Green, UFO, Crown Court, The Professionals and Heartbeat, and also played a wireless operator in the film A Bridge Too Far.

Shortly after joining Corrie in 1977, Geoff appeared as a sergeant in British police drama The Professionals in the episode called When The Heat Cools Off. 

Later in 1979 he took on the role Doctor Astrov in Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya at Leeds Playhouse directed by Michael Attenborough.

Helen Worth said: ‘His partnership with Lynne Perry (pictured) was something rather special and they gave the viewers huge pleasure for many years’

Don later tried to run Mike over but met his bitter end when his car crashed into a viaduct and exploded

Geoff is outlived by his wife Judith who he married in 1967 in St Cecilia’s Church in Little Hadham, East Hertfordshire (pictured together in 1995) 

He also starred in comedy drama Brass and appeared in two episodes of Doctor Who. 

More recently in 2010 he had a small role in Holby City as an alcoholic. 

Geoff is outlived by his wife Judith who he married in 1967 in St Cecilia’s Church in Little Hadham, East Hertfordshire. 

The couple share a daughter, Gaby, who works as a journalist and columnist for The Guardian.