Philip Lowrie has died on the age of 88.
The actor was greatest identified for his portrayal of teenage tearaway Dennis Tanner on the ITV1 cleaning soap opera ‘Coronation Avenue’ and appeared in its very first episode on 9 December 1960 alongside different authentic characters reminiscent of Ken Barlow (William Roache) and Ena Sharples (Violet Carson), however handed away on Friday (25.04.25), his publicist introduced.
A press release learn: “My shopper and really expensive buddy, Philip Lowrie, the beloved actor famend for his function as Dennis Tanner on ‘Coronation Avenue’, handed away yesterday at 88.
“His dying marks the tip of an period for the world’s longest-running cleaning soap, the place he grew to become a cornerstone of its storytelling.”
As Dennis, Phillip was the on-screen son of avenue siren Elsie Tanner (Pat Phoenix) and had not too long ago returned from jail when the programme started.
His character had an enormous curiosity in present enterprise and continuously introduced circus acts dwelling as he himself flitted from job to job, however he later married Jenny Sutton (Mitzi Roger) they usually moved to Bristol, which served as his preliminary exit from the serial in 1968.
Philip returned to the half in 2011 – which, following a 43-year absence, earned him a Guinness World File for the longest break from a personality in a cleaning soap – and Dennis was reintroduced as a homeless man who later struck up a relationship with outdated flame Rita Sullivan (Barbara Knox).
Just below two years after they tied the knot on Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee in June 2012, Dennis ran off with Gloria Worth (Sue Johnston) however returned as soon as extra a couple of months later.
He rekindled his relationship with Rita as he helped her deal with the homicide of her shut buddy Tina McIntyre (Michelle Keegan), however they divorced when it grew to become obvious that he was simply in search of a spot to remain, and he left for good in July 2014.
Shortly after the information broke, ITV bosses paid tribute to Philip as they famous it had been an “honour and a privilege” to welcome him again to the solid in 2011.
In a press release, they mentioned: “Everybody at Coronation Avenue is saddened to listen to of the passing of Philip Lowrie.
“As an authentic member of the solid in 1960, Philip created an iconic character in Dennis Tanner, son of Elsie Tanner, performed by Pat Phoenix. When Philip returned to Coronation Avenue in 2011 it was an honour and a privilege to work with him.”
Our heartfelt condolences and sympathy to his family members.”
In 2020, it was revealed that Dennis had died off-screen following a battle with dementia and Rita acquired his ashes within the submit as a part of the cleaning soap’s 10,000th episode.
Rita had meant to scatter Dennis’ ashes in Blackpool however her plans went awry when she set the urn down throughout a relaxation cease en route, and it was crushed by a passing ambulance.
Upon the sixtieth anniversary of ‘Coronation Avenue’ in 2020, Philip- who additionally appeared in dramas reminiscent of ‘Conflict and Peace’ and ‘Residence Fires’ – admitted that he would have been “comfortable” to hold in within the half however had no say within the matter.
He instructed Distinct Nostalgia: “The producer Stuart Blackburn got here in. He removed me, he was the one who removed me. I would have been comfortable to remain however when it got here to the tip of my three-year contract, it wasn’t renewed. In order that was the tip of me on ‘Coronation Avenue’.
“I liked Dennis’ relationship with Norris, Malcolm [Hebden] is an excellent actor, and it was an important pleasure working with him, so working with him and Barbara was an excellent time.”
