Bill Dean
Bill Dean (3 September 1921 - 20 April 2000) was a British actor who was born in Everton, Liverpool. He was born Patrick Connolly but took his stage name in honour of Everton football legend William 'Dixie' Dean.
Dean served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, seeing action in North Africa and Italy. He worked variously as a tram driver, pipe fitter, insurance agent, ship's steward, docker and local government officer, whilst also appearing as a stand-up comedian in Lancashire clubs and pubs, before making his breakthrough in Ken Loach's The Golden Vision.
He was most notable in his later years for playing miserly 'Harry Cross' in the soap opera Brookside, but he made appearances in numerous other UK soaps and dramas including, When the Boat Comes In, The Sweeney, Minder, Juliet Bravo and Heartbeat.
He was seen in videos for the rock group The Farm. He also appeared in the films Priest, Kes, Nightwatch and Let Him Have It. He appeared in 1979's Scum as warder Mr Duke.
Personal life and death[]
Dean was married, and had three children: two sons, one daughter.
Having been ill for some time he suffered a heart attack and, on 20 April 2000, died at the Arrowe Park Hospital on The Wirral.
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