Liz Dawn dead at 77 – tributes flood in for Coronation Street actress as Kym Marsh and Helen Flanagan praise ‘iconic star and legend’ who played Vera Duckworth
TRIBUTES have flooded in for Liz Dawn as members of the Coronation Street cast and celebrity fans remembered the actress who played Vera Duckworth for 34 years.
They have hailed the veteran TV star as a soap icon and insisted she will always be remembered as a legend of the Cobbles.
Stars have flocked to social media since news broke that Liz passed away last night after a long battle with lung condition emphysema.
Corrie's Kym Marsh, Catherine Tyldesley and Shayne Ward led tributes, along with the stars of other soaps including Emmerdale's Danny Miller.
Kym tweeted: "Just heard the terrible news of our lovely Liz Dawns passing. I'm so sad. What a wonderful lady. She will be so missed. Love to her family x."
Shayne wrote: "RIP Liz Dawn 🙏🏻."
Catherine added: "RIP #LizDawn what a legend. What a woman. What an honour to have walked the same cobbles. God bless you star xxxxx."
Another castmate, Jennie McAlpine, called in to today's episode of Loose Women to pay tribute on live TV.
She told the panel that despite Liz being ill for many years, she wasn’t ready for her to pass away, aged 77.
“You can’t prepare for something like this,” she said. “My thoughts are just with Liz’s family, she was incredibly close to her big family, her children, great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren.”
Jennie went on to reveal she was a huge fan of the actress before she got the chance to share a screen with her.
She shared: “She was very funny. I have got to say I was Coronation street fan as a little girl, I was a fan because I was fan of Vera and Jack, to get on to that set and work with that woman was incredible, the pair of them together was dynamite.”
But despite Jack, played by the late Bill Tarmey, and Vera being iconic characters, Jennie says the actress was incredibly humble.
“I very quickly realised that she had no idea about her own talent, she was so humble. She was really interested in how you were and then we would do the scenes,” she revealed.
“The idea of her being legend, which everyone agrees with, she did not think that.”
Corrie's Kevin Kennedy also offered a TV tribute, telling the hosts of This Morning how much he will miss Liz.
He said: "Every time I think of Liz I always get a smile on my face and what a brilliant legacy that is, she made so many people happy, she was in everyone’s living room for years and years and years, and the pleasure that she gave was immense.
“That’s what we’ve really got to be thinking about today, he wonderfulness as a very funny actress.”
He also revealed that she didn’t believe she was a good actress.
“She was a lot cleverer than people thought she was, especially in regards to acting.
“She didn’t think she was very good, but in fact she was brilliant.”
He added: “She was an absolute joy.”
Simon Gregson said: "Liz was a warm very funny lovely lady who loved everyone she worked with,it was a huge honour to work with her but more so no her as a friend.
"She touched the hearts of everyone she met and gave so much back with her charity work. She will be missed so much.
"Night god bless lovely liz xxxx."
Corrie veteran Julie Goodyear added: "Such sad news regarding the passing of Liz Dawn. I send my sincere condolences to her family. RIP Liz. My love. "
Danny wrote: "Devastated to hear about the passing of Liz Dawn. A beautiful soul. Inside and out. Rest in peace."
Fellow Emmerdale star Chris Bisson added: "Very sad to hear the news that Liz Dawn has passed away.
"A wonderful person, amazing actress and total LEGEND!
"Keep smiling down on us Liz x."
A statement from her family said: "We are devastated and heartbroken at the passing of our much-loved wife, mother, sister, grandmother and great grandmother, the incredible Liz Dawn.
"Liz died peacefully last night at home with her loving family around her.
"She has been the love, light and inspiration in our lives and we are bereft at her passing."
While Liz was best known for her on-screen marriage to Jack Duckworth (played by the late Bill Tarmey) in real life she was married to her devoted husband Don and she had four children, Graham, Dawn, Ann and Julie.
A statement from Coronation Street added: "It is with the greatest sadness that we have learned our beloved Liz Dawn has passed away last night. Her family at Coronation Street are heartbroken.
"We extend our heartfelt condolences and sympathy at this very sad time to Liz’s devoted husband Don, her loving children Graham, Dawn, Ann and Julie, their families and her six grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
"We have been blessed to have Liz in our lives, as she was such a kind, considerate and caring friend and colleague.
"As Coronation Street’s Vera Duckworth for 34 years, Liz brought so much joy and happiness to so many. She was a wonderful actress who will forever be a true Coronation Street legend.
On behalf of ITV and the programme Coronation Street’s Executive Producer, Kieran Roberts said: “Liz Dawn was a true Coronation Street legend, a brilliant actor and a wonderful person
"Everyone lucky enough to have worked with Liz during her thirty-four years playing Corrie icon Vera Duckworth will remember her with huge affection.”
Liz was in Coronation Street for 34 years - after first joining in 1974 - before quitting the cobbles through ill-health in 2008.