Coronation Street and Indiana Jones actor dies aged 82
Renowned theatre and television actor Michael Byrne has died at the age of 82. Death was confirmed on Tuesday, June 30, though he passed away on Saturday, June 20.
Byrne enjoyed a lengthy career spanning over six decades, during which he acted alongside some of the greats including Sean Connery and Harrison Ford. The Hampstead-born star is perhaps best remembered by Coronation Street fans for playing Ted Page, the long-lost father of Gail Platt. Arriving on the cobbles in spring 2008, Ted's appearance came after Gail had spent more than five decades without knowing her father. Within one week of arriving, he revealed to Gail that he was gay and had recently lost his partner of twenty years. Despite their complicated past, Ted struck up a close friendship with Ken Barlow and gave his daughter away at her wedding to Joe McIntyre. His final on-screen appearance came in January 2010, though his character was mentioned until his death off-screen in 2021.
Beyond Coronation Street, Byrne was best known for playing Colonel Vogel in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, starring opposite Harrison Ford. His extensive film career included roles in Braveheart, where he played English commanding officer Smythe, and the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies alongside Pierce Brosnan. He also starred with Sir Ian McKellen as a Jewish concentration camp survivor in Apt Pupil, and played Gellert Grindelwald in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1.
His theatrical career began in the 1960s, appearing in productions alongside Maggie Smith and Robert Stephens in The Royal Hunt of the Sun and Trelawny of the Wells. His final stage appearances came in Schiller's Mary Stuart in 2018.
Byrne is survived by former wife Carole, daughters Tara and Bryony, and three grandchildren, Tom, Chloe and Jasmine.