Stephanie Cole of ‘Open All Hours’ and ‘Coronation Street’ fame passes away at 84: ‘She brought joy to millions'

Stephanie Cole, a veteran actress who was best known for her work in shows like ‘Coronation Street,' ‘Doc Martin,' and ‘Open All Hours,' has passed away. She was 84 years old at the time of her passing.Stephanie Cole passes away at 84The veteran icon left for her heavenly abode during the early hours of September 18. Deadline confirmed the news that was shared via a statement issued by her agent. In his statement, John Grant shared, “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Stephanie Cole, OBE. She passed away this morning at the age of 84. Stephanie had been living with Alzheimer’s disease for some years.”He further added, “Stephanie was an extraordinary talent whose long and distinguished career included many iconic performances in theatre and television. She brought joy to millions through her many much-loved roles in sitcoms and drama. She will also be remembered for her tireless work supporting mental health charities. During this incredibly difficult time, the family kindly requests privacy.”About Stephanie ColeThe veteran actress was born in Solihull in 1941, and acting became a part of her life from an early age. She trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and started her career in theatre, playing the role of Madame Arcati in Noël Coward’s ‘Blithe Spirit.' Some of her other well-known theater plays at the time included ‘The Mousetrap,' ‘King Lear,' ‘A Passionate Woman,' and ‘Noises Off.'She slowly transitioned into TV work, with her big break coming when she was cast in the role of Dr. Beatrice Mason in the drama 'Tenko,' which revolved around the lives of British women staying in Singapore after the Japanese invasion. She later played Mrs. Featherstone for 10 episodes of ‘Open All Hours,' as well as for the revival show, ‘Still Open All Hours.'Some of her other popular TV shows included ‘Talking Heads,' 'A Bit of a Do,' ‘Keeping Mum,' ‘Doc Martin,' and ‘Coronation Street.’The cause of her death was not shared online at the time of publishing this report.She is survived by her daughter from her previous marriage. Cole’s husband, fellow actor Peter Birrel, passed away in 2004.Get the latest TV News, TV Shows and more. Download the TOI app.