William Tarmey
Encyclopedia
Bill Tarmey is an English actor, singer and author, best known for playing Jack Duckworth
on the soap opera Coronation Street
. First appearing in the role in 1979, he played it continuously from 1983 to 2010.
, Manchester. Shortly after his birth, he moved with his family to live in Bradford, Manchester, where he was also educated. Following his father's death during the Second World War, his mother Lilian married for a second time, to a man called Robert Cleworth. William attended the Bradford Memorial School and the Queens Street School which became the Philips Park Secondary Modern School. On leaving school, he was apprenticed to his stepfather, who was an asphalt
spreader by trade. He also worked in the construction industry for a number of years.
In 1955, he met his future wife Alma in the local youth club
. They went on to marry in 1962 and have two children together: Carl (born 1966) and Sara (born 1970).
In 1968, Tarmey gave up his job in the building industry to work as a nightclub
singer and entertainer. In order to supplement his income, he took on work as an extra on shows such as Coronation Street
, amongst others. Despite suffering a serious heart attack in 1976 and a stroke in 1977, he was eventually offered the role of Jack Duckworth
, a character who would go on to become an institution in British soap operas. He underwent quintuple bypass surgery
in 1986, and had a pacemaker fitted after suffering a second heart attack in 2002, which was used as a storyline in Coronation Street to explain his absence.
Tarmey was an extra on the Granada TV film King Lear (1983) which starred Sir Laurence Olivier in the title role.
He is an accomplished singer, who has released several albums. Three of them (A Gift of Love (1993), Time for Love (1994) and After Hours (1996)) appeared in the UK Albums Chart
. He and his wife Alma presently live in Ashton-under-Lyne
.
He is an uncle of Peter Morgan
, a popular presenter on BBC Radio Stoke
.
Commenting, he said, "I've had the most amazing 30 years playing Jack. Because of him I've made fantastic friends and travelled all over the world. I'll be sorry to say goodbye". Tarmey's departure was pushed forward to the 8 November 2010 episode because of his health; in this episode Jack died asleep in his chair in a manner similar to the death of Vera (although Jack had a storyline illness). This was revealed in What's On TV and several other television guides for that week. Tarmey was the second longest serving male actor in the show.
In a March 2011 interview with Nigel Pivaro
Tarmey revealed he also had to leave the series because his son Carl has a brain tumour.
Jack Duckworth
John Harold "Jack" Duckworth is a long-standing fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street, a long-running serial drama about working class life in the fictional town of Weatherfield. He is played by actor William Tarmey. The character debuted onscreen during the episode...
on the soap opera Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
. First appearing in the role in 1979, he played it continuously from 1983 to 2010.
Life and career
Tarmey was born in ArdwickArdwick
Ardwick is a district of the City of Manchester, in North West England, about one mile east of Manchester City Centre.By the mid-19th century Ardwick had grown from being a village into a pleasant and wealthy suburb of Manchester, but by the end of that century it had become heavily industrialised...
, Manchester. Shortly after his birth, he moved with his family to live in Bradford, Manchester, where he was also educated. Following his father's death during the Second World War, his mother Lilian married for a second time, to a man called Robert Cleworth. William attended the Bradford Memorial School and the Queens Street School which became the Philips Park Secondary Modern School. On leaving school, he was apprenticed to his stepfather, who was an asphalt
Asphalt
Asphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
spreader by trade. He also worked in the construction industry for a number of years.
In 1955, he met his future wife Alma in the local youth club
Youth club
A youth club or youth social club is a place where young people can meet and enjoy activities such as football, soccer, basketball, table tennis, or video games, and other religious, sports activities are frequently sponsored by a community center....
. They went on to marry in 1962 and have two children together: Carl (born 1966) and Sara (born 1970).
In 1968, Tarmey gave up his job in the building industry to work as a nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
singer and entertainer. In order to supplement his income, he took on work as an extra on shows such as Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
, amongst others. Despite suffering a serious heart attack in 1976 and a stroke in 1977, he was eventually offered the role of Jack Duckworth
Jack Duckworth
John Harold "Jack" Duckworth is a long-standing fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street, a long-running serial drama about working class life in the fictional town of Weatherfield. He is played by actor William Tarmey. The character debuted onscreen during the episode...
, a character who would go on to become an institution in British soap operas. He underwent quintuple bypass surgery
Coronary artery bypass surgery
Coronary artery bypass surgery, also coronary artery bypass graft surgery, and colloquially heart bypass or bypass surgery is a surgical procedure performed to relieve angina and reduce the risk of death from coronary artery disease...
in 1986, and had a pacemaker fitted after suffering a second heart attack in 2002, which was used as a storyline in Coronation Street to explain his absence.
Tarmey was an extra on the Granada TV film King Lear (1983) which starred Sir Laurence Olivier in the title role.
He is an accomplished singer, who has released several albums. Three of them (A Gift of Love (1993), Time for Love (1994) and After Hours (1996)) appeared in the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
. He and his wife Alma presently live in Ashton-under-Lyne
Ashton-under-Lyne
Ashton-under-Lyne is a market town in the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside, Greater Manchester, England. Historically a part of Lancashire, it lies on the north bank of the River Tame, on undulating land at the foothills of the Pennines...
.
He is an uncle of Peter Morgan
Peter Morgan
Peter Morgan may refer to:* Peter Morgan , British sports car manufacturer* Peter Morgan , 1978 British Formula Ford champion* Peter Morgan , Wales and British lions international...
, a popular presenter on BBC Radio Stoke
BBC Radio Stoke
BBC Radio Stoke is a BBC Local Radio station in England, for the area of North and Mid Staffordshire, north east Shropshire and South Cheshire. The station began broadcasting programmes on 14 March 1968 as BBC Radio Stoke-on-Trent....
.
Departure from Coronation Street
Tarmey wanted to leave his role in the long running television series, Coronation Street, in 2009 due to his multiple health problems, which include severe breathing problems. The show's producers, however, persuaded him to stay until the 50th anniversary, in December of the following year. News of his departure was announced on 9 April 2010.Commenting, he said, "I've had the most amazing 30 years playing Jack. Because of him I've made fantastic friends and travelled all over the world. I'll be sorry to say goodbye". Tarmey's departure was pushed forward to the 8 November 2010 episode because of his health; in this episode Jack died asleep in his chair in a manner similar to the death of Vera (although Jack had a storyline illness). This was revealed in What's On TV and several other television guides for that week. Tarmey was the second longest serving male actor in the show.
In a March 2011 interview with Nigel Pivaro
Nigel Pivaro
Nigel Pivaro is an English journalist who as an actor was best known for playing Terry Duckworth, the son of Vera and Jack Duckworth in Coronation Street.- Career :Pivaro was born in Manchester, England...
Tarmey revealed he also had to leave the series because his son Carl has a brain tumour.
Autobiography
Tarmey announced in 2010 that his autobiography entitled Being Jack – My Life on the Street and Other Adventures would be released later in the year and it was published on 14 October 2010.External links
- What's on TV profile