Coronation Street and Mrs Brown’s Boys Actor Frank Grimes Dies Aged 78

Acclaimed actor Frank Grimes, best known for his roles in Coronation Street and Mrs Brown’s Boys, has died at the age of 78 following a short illness.

The Tony Award-nominated performer passed away in the early hours of Friday, 1 August, surrounded by his wife and family. While no official cause of death has been disclosed, tributes have poured in for the Dublin-born star, hailed as “one of Ireland’s greatest actors.”

The Irish Cultural Centre (ICC) in London announced his passing in a heartfelt statement, describing Grimes as “so warm-hearted, full of Dublin wit and charm in abundance, with a beautiful sparkle in his eyes.”

“It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that the ICC regretfully informs you that the great Irish actor Frank Grimes has sadly passed away… surrounded by his wife and family,” the statement read. “Anyone who saw Frank perform his riveting self-penned production The He and the She of It – A Portrait of James Joyce will know what a thrilling, powerful, unforgettable performance it was. Frank was a spellbinding actor with a mesmerising voice.”

Born in Cabra, Dublin, in 1947 as the youngest of seven children, Grimes trained at the Abbey Theatre and became a member of the Abbey Players. He achieved early success portraying Brendan Behan in Borstal Boy, which ran in Dublin, Paris and later Broadway. The production earned him a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor and the New York Critics’ Most Promising Actor Award.

Throughout his career, Grimes worked extensively in theatre, including with the National Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal Court and in London’s West End. His film and television credits included A Bridge Too Far, Tulips of Harlem, The Outsider, Strumpet City — for which he won the Jacobs Award — Kavanagh QC and Blind Justice, earning the Silver Nymph Award for Best Actor.

On television, he was known to audiences for playing Barry in Coronation Street and appearing in Mrs Brown’s Boys. He also wrote several plays, including The Fishing Trip and Wake ’n’ See, and regularly performed his acclaimed James Joyce one-man show in Dublin, London and Paris.

The Abbey Theatre also paid tribute, noting his performances on both the Abbey and Peacock stages between 1965 and 1972 in works by Sean O’Casey, Lady Gregory, Oliver Goldsmith, Thomas Kilroy, J.M. Synge, William Shakespeare, Bernard Shaw and Tom MacIntyre.

Grimes is survived by his wife Ginnette, daughter Tilly, son Andrew, seven grandchildren, and extended family. The ICC concluded its tribute: “We are so sad to say goodbye to Frank, but so blessed to have known him, worked with him and seen him perform. May Frank sleep easy now and rest in peace.”