Peter Armitage (actor)
Peter Armitage | |
|---|---|
| Born | Peter James Armitage 23 October 1939 |
| Died | 30 November 2018(aged 79) Cononley,North Yorkshire,England |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | East 15 Acting School |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1969–2018 |
| Spouse |
Annabel Scase
(m.1970, divorced) |
| Children | 2 |
Peter James ArmitageMBE(23 October 1939 – 30 November 2018)[1][2]was an Englishtelevisionandstageactor best known for his role asBill Websteron long-runningsoap operaCoronation Street.[3]He was a regular on British screens from the 1970s onwards.
Early life[edit]
Armitage was bornout of wedlockinSkipton,West Riding of Yorkshire,where he was brought up primarily by his aunt until the age of 10, when his mother married.[4]He did not meet his father, who was German, until he was 28, and the two did not form a long-term relationship. Armitage attendedGlusburnsecondary modern school, then was apprenticed to a firm building diesel engines for five years. He subsequently spent four years serving in theMerchant Navybefore settling inLondon,where he worked as abanksmanon the construction of theVictoria line.He then enrolled at theEast 15 Acting SchoolinLoughton,Essexto train as an actor.[1]
Career[edit]
Armitage had three spells as the characterBill WebsteronCoronation Street,appearing in the role in 1984–1985 (for six months), then from 1995 to 1997 and again from 2006 to 2011. He had previously appeared as a different character playing a painter and decorator in two episodes in 1977. In 2014 Armitage stated in an interview that he had hoped to return to the series after successfully battling bowel cancer.[5][6]
In the 1970s Armitage appeared in two British drama series,The SweeneyandThe Professionals.InThe SweeneyArmitage appeared as Herbert"Jacko"Jackson in the episodeBig Spender.His character was that of a crooked ticket attendant of a car park company who becomes involved with an organized crime family in and attempt to defraud his employers. Whilst inThe ProfessionalsArmitage appeared asSpecial Branchdetective Ray Kerrigan, the episode entitledStake Out.
In 1988, a century after theWhitechapel Murders,Armitage appeared in the television mini-seriesJack the Ripperin which he played the part of Sergeant Kirby.
His other TV credits includeLovejoy,The Befrienders,CouplesandHearts and Minds.He also appeared inLucky Feller,a short-lived sitcom starringDavid Jason.[7]In 1998, played Danny Ormondroyd in a stage adaptation of the filmBrassed Offat theSheffield Crucibleand London’sOlivier Theatre.[1]
Personal life[edit]
Armitage married actress Annabel Scase in 1970; the couple had two children and later divorced.[1]
Armitage lived inCross Hills,North Yorkshire[8]and subsequently inCononleynearSkipton.[9]He was appointed aMember of the Order of the British Empire(MBE) in the2011 Birthday Honoursfor services to amateur theatre inYorkshire.
Armitage died of a heart attack on 30 November 2018, aged 79. He was survived by his children.[1][10]
References[edit]
- ^abcdeHayward, Anthony (6 December 2018)."Peter Armitage obituary".The Guardian.Retrieved6 December2018.
- ^"Coronation Street actor Peter Armitage dies age 78".Bbc.co.uk.5 December 2018.Retrieved5 December2018.
- ^"East 15 notable alumni".East15.ac.uk.Archived fromthe originalon 29 June 2015.Retrieved5 December2018.
- ^Witherow, John, ed. (1 January 2019). "Peter Armitage:Obituary".The Times.No. 72732. p. 44.ISSN0140-0460.
- ^"'Corrie' Star Wants Soap Return After Beating Cancer ".HuffPost UK.27 February 2014.Retrieved5 December2018.
- ^Earp, Catherine (26 February 2014)."Corrie star beats cancer, wants return".Digital Spy.Retrieved5 December2018.
- ^Hildred, Stafford; Ewbank, Tim (3 September 2012).Sir David Jason - A Life of Laughter.John Blake Publishing.ISBN9781782190721.Retrieved5 December2018– via Google Books.
- ^"Cross Hills, North Yorkshire has plenty to trumpet about".Yorkshire Life.Retrieved5 December2018.
- ^Crawford, Sue (26 February 2014)."Corrie Bill Webster has beaten cancer and wants to get on the cobbles".Mirror.co.uk.Retrieved5 December2018.
- ^"Peter Armitage dead: Coronation Street star who played Bill Webster dies aged 78".Mirror.co.uk.5 December 2018.Retrieved5 December2018.
