Kenneth Cope, who starred in Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased), Coronation Street and the Carry On films, has died aged 93.
The actor made his name as the ghost detective Marty Hopkirk in the ITV supernatural detective series Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased), and he played Jed Stone in Britain’s longest-running soap opera.
Cope’s former agent Sandra Chalmers, of the Artists Partnership, shared a statement from his family that read: “Ken passed away yesterday peacefully in his sleep with his wife and family by his side.”
They described him as “an incredible icon of British TV and film”, with a career spanning six decades that “contributed to some of the most iconic moments in British culture”, as well as being “a natural comedy actor”.
A character actor, proud Liverpudlian and a loyal supporter of Everton, Cope began his career in theatre before his natural talent for comedy made him a regular fixture in the acting industry and a name across film and TV.
Speaking to the PA news agency in 1994, Cope said he had “happy times” making Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased). He added: “I used to think people liked it because they were happy times when we made it. The sun was always shining.
“As a kid you wanted to be Superman, you wanted to be able to do things, to find the magic stone and rub it and a genie would appear. Randall and Hopkirk was quite escapist. There was a nice guy there who could do magical things.”
But it was Cope’s earlier breakout role as Jed Stone in Coronation Street that pushed him into the limelight during the 1960s. A thief and a charmer, Jed became the lodger and occasionally helpful friend of Minnie Caldwell, played by Margot Bryant – whom Cope would go on to present a tribute programme to in 1988.
He appeared in more than 100 episodes from 1961 to 1966, and briefly returned in 2008 and 2009.
A spokesperson for the soap said: “Kenneth’s portrayal of Jed Stone, also known as Sonny Jim, on Coronation Street between 1961 and 1966 made him a firm favourite with the soap’s fans.
“He was a talented actor and writer and we were delighted when he agreed to reprise the role 42 years later in 2008. We are sorry to hear of his passing and our thoughts are with his family and friends.”
Cope went on to star in two Carry On films, Carry On at Your Convenience and Carry On Matron, and he also appeared in 1964’s Carry On Jack in an uncredited role.
The actor Robin Askwith also paid tribute to him, having appeared alongside him in a 1969 episode of Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased). In a post on X, he said: “So sorry to hear about Kenneth Cope passing away at 93. One of the first actors I ever worked with … individual, encouraging and generous.”
