dean sullivan cause of death and dean sullivan obituary Brookside Actor

Dean "Dino" Sullivan, who died aged 68, was best known for playing the loveable rogue Jimmy Corkhill on the iconic Channel 4 soap opera Brookside from 1986 until it ended in 2003. So committed was he to the programme that five years after it finished he tried to buy several of the houses used in filming with a view to reviving the show.

The Early Days of Brookside

Brookside began in 1982, on the launch night of Channel 4, and soon became the station's most-watched show. Filmed in real, newly built houses in the Croxteth area of Liverpool, its groundbreaking storylines included British television's first openly gay character, its first pre-watershed lesbian kiss, an incestuous relationship and a domestic abuse tale that ended in murder.

When Sullivan first joined the cast as Jimmy Corkhill in February 1986, he was only booked to appear in six episodes. But the denim-clad, happy-go-lucky anti-hero quickly became a central character.

Jimmy Corkhill, Loveable Rogue

Much of Jimmy's time on Brookside was spent keeping one step ahead of the law. One of his first storylines involved helping his brother Billy trash the family house as part of an “insurance job”. Another early scam saw him build an illegal extension using stolen materials.

Along the way Jimmy flitted from job to job: working as a barman and bouncer, serving in a takeaway, even cleaning schools. His stocky 6ft frame and quick wit made him one of Brookside Close's most popular, if roguish, residents.

A Descent into Darkness

In the early 1990s, however, Jimmy's character took a darker turn. At 40 years old, he started taking hard drugs, gradually moving from being a user to a dealer peddling his poison in the community. This had frightening consequences: Jimmy's addiction led directly to the deaths of two local men in a dangerous driving incident.

When Jimmy turned to dealing no one could understand where his newfound wealth was coming from. But the professional dealers soon realised he had been undercutting their prices, leading to a terrifying revenge shooting in Brookside Close itself.

Jimmy's Chaotic Impact on Brookside Close

Jimmy Corkhill never shied away from chaos and controversy. In 1995 he upset the neighbours by turning up at the D-Day celebrations dressed in a Nazi uniform. On another occasion, while training to be a history teacher, he ended up on the school roof threatening to jump after his falsified qualifications were discovered.

Sullivan’s raw, realistic portrayal of Jimmy earned great critical acclaim. He received several British Soap Awards nominations over the years. In 2000 he won “Best On-Screen Couple” with Sue Jenkins, who played his wife Jackie, and in 2003 received a Special Achievement Award.

Recognition from Royalty

Such was the popularity of Brookside and the Jimmy Corkhill character that Princess Diana reportedly “never missed an episode”. During a 1998 reception at Windsor Castle, Dean Sullivan was also instantly recognised by Queen Elizabeth II herself.

At its peak in 1993, Brookside was pulling in nine million viewers for the infamous “body under the patio” plotline. However, ratings gradually declined over the years to just 1.3 million regular viewers when the show was cancelled in November 2003.

Brookside Ends, But Jimmy Corkhill Lives On

As the final Brookside episode credits rolled, Jimmy was seen gleefully vandalising the iconic “Close” road sign – changing it to “Closed” with a marker pen. This epitomised the spirit and humour Dean Sullivan brought to the role for over 17 years.

Commenting on Jimmy's possible fate after the show's cancellation, Sullivan humorously imagined: “He’d probably be in a care home somewhere looking after old people but maybe dipping into their pensions.”

Even after Brookside ended, Jimmy Corkhill lived on in the hearts of loyal fans. And so strong was Sullivan’s affection for the character that in 2008 he tried to buy some of the Brookside properties to revive the show.

An Established Stage and Screen Actor

Although immortalised as Jimmy Corkhill, Dean Sullivan was an established theatre actor long before joining Brookside. He performed with the Neptune Theatre Company in Liverpool alongside future Hollywood star David Morrissey.

Sullivan even helped establish the Liverpool Theatre Company in 1989, directing productions of The Importance of Being Earnest and Victoria Wood's Talent. He once explained that acting for theatre and television required very different skillsets.

As well as Brookside, Sullivan's TV credits included appearances on Lily Savage's Blankety Blank and Celebrity Antiques Road Trip. He also regularly starred in pantomimes across the country.

A Passionate Brookside Loyalist

Dean Sullivan was first and foremost a Brookside man. When offered a role in rival soap Coronation Street in 1991, at the peak of his Brookside fame, he turned it down flat.

And despite suggesting his character be killed off in 1993, Sullivan later admitted he had no regrets sticking with the show long-term: “Jimmy Corkhill has given me the most wonderful lifestyle. I’ve got my own house, I’ve been all over the world. Do you think I’d begrudge all that? I don’t think so.”

Raising Cancer Awareness

In more recent years, Dean Sullivan had been living with prostate cancer since his diagnosis in 2018. He became actively involved with several charities helping raise awareness around the disease.

Just months before his sad death at age 68, Sullivan was still attending events highlighting issues around prostate cancer testing and treatment. It was a selfless final act from a man who gave so much joy to others through his acting career.

The Legacy of an Iconic Brookside Character

When Dean Sullivan passed away in November 2022, aged just 68, British television lost one of its most iconic soap opera actors.

As Coronation Street had Roy Cropper and Eastenders has Dot Cotton, so Brookside had its very own matriarch in Jimmy Corkhill. Over 17 years, Sullivan brought the lovable rogue to life with a mischievous charm and down-to-earth likeability that every great soap character requires.

Jimmy Corkhill may be gone, but he will live on forever in Brookside reruns and boxsets for decades to come. And as those final credits showed, Dean Sullivan ensured his legacy – scraping away just a little piece of Brookside history with Jimmy's famous red pen flourish.

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