Skip to content
Join free
Bill Dean
Actor

Bill Dean

3 Sep 1921Born
20 Apr 2000Died
78Age at death
52Credits

Biography

Bill Dean was a British actor who was born in Everton, Liverpool, Lancashire. He was born Patrick Anthony Connolly, but took his stage name in honour of Everton football legend William 'Dixie' Dean. After a atring of jobs, it was his work as a Lancashire club comedian that saw him spotted by Ken Loach who gave him his breakthrough role in his TV play The Golden Vision. Famous for his flat but penetrating Scouse tones, Dean went on to star as miserable pensioner Harry Cross in the long running Channel 4 soap Brookside from its inception in 1983 to 1990.

Read the full biography

He briefly returned to the series in 1999 for three episodes, when his character re-appeared in Brookside Close suffering from Alzheimer's disease and wrongly believing that he still lived there. The same character was the inspiration behind the 1980s group 'Jegsy Dodd and the sons of Harry Cross' who hailed from the Wirral and Dean himself appeared in the video of the Liverpudlian band The Farm's Groovy Train as Cross, who was a former train driver. He did of a heart attack aged 78 in 2000.

Known for

Filmography

  1. 1998Brookside: Friday the 13thFilm: Harold Cross
  2. 1996HillsboroughFilm: Additional Cast
  3. 1995PriestFilm: Altar Boy
  4. 1994SkallagriggFilm: Old Man
  5. 1992HeartbeatSeries: Harry Capshaw (1 episode)
  6. 1991Let Him Have ItFilm: Foreman of the Jury
  7. 1984SlaygroundFilm: Compere
  8. 1983Agatha Christie's Partners in CrimeSeries: Mr Hove
  9. 1983The Gathering SeedSeries: Billy Eccles (6 episodes)
  10. 1981Going GentlyFilm: Painter
  11. 1981A Turn for the WorseFilm: (voice)
  12. 1980Nobody's PerfectSeries: Mr Barrington (1 episode)
  13. 1980Rising DampFilm: Workman
  14. 1980The Mirror Crack'dFilm: Man in Village Hall (uncredited)
  15. 1979MinderSeries: Police Sgt. (1 episode)
  16. 1979ScumFilm: Mr Duke
  17. 1978Night PeopleFilm: Ted
  18. 1978Freedom of the DigFilm: Sid
  19. 1978Pennies from HeavenSeries: Alf (2 episodes)
  20. 1977BBC2 Play of the WeekSeries: Ted (1 episode)
  21. 1976Beasts: What Big EyesFilm: Duggie Jeb
  22. 1976BeastsSeries: Duggie Jebb (1 episode)
  23. 1976Bag of YeastFilm: Teddy
  24. 1975Break InFilm: Dixie
  25. 1975In Sickness and in HealthFilm: Mr Jackson
  26. 1975Waiting at the Field GateFilm: Ted
  27. 1975The WackersSeries: Charlie (7 episodes)
  28. 1975FlameFilm: Club Owner (uncredited)
  29. 1975The SweeneySeries: Charlie Norton (1 episode)
  30. 1974Oh No, It's Selwyn Froggitt!Series: Jack (15 episodes)
  31. 1974Match of the DayFilm: Father
  32. 1974PlayhouseSeries: Painter (1 episode)
  33. 1973Night WatchFilm: Inspector Walker
  34. 1973Speech DayFilm: George
  35. 1973The Best Pair of Legs in the BusinessFilm: Bert
  36. 1972New Scotland YardSeries: Bernard Hobbs (1 episode)
  37. 1972Bank HolidayFilm: Father
  38. 1971GumshoeFilm: Tommy Wright
  39. 1971Family LifeFilm: Mr. Baildon
  40. 1971JusticeSeries: Charlie Keen (1 episode)
  41. 1971The Rank and FileFilm: Billy
  42. 1971BudgieSeries: Dutchie Holland (1 episode)
  43. 1970Roll On Four O'ClockFilm: Arthur Foster
  44. 1970Play for TodaySeries: Billy (1 episode)
  45. 1970KesFilm: Fish and Chip Shop Man
  46. 1969The Big FlameFilm: Landlord
  47. 1969ITV Saturday Night TheatreSeries: Uncle Sid (1 episode)
  48. 1968The ExpertSeries: Leslie Stevens (1 episode)
  49. 1968The Golden VisionFilm: John Coyne
  50. 1967Man in a SuitcaseSeries (1 episode)
  51. 1965Public EyeSeries: Mr. Steadman (1 episode)
  52. 1964The Wednesday PlaySeries: John Coyne (1 episode)

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.