Beloved Brookside star Dean Sullivan passes away at 68, prompting heartfelt tributes from his family
Dean Sullivan, renowned for portraying Jimmy Corkhill in Channel 4's Brookside, passed away at the age of 68. His family fondly remembered him as their beloved 'Dino
Renowned Brookside actor Dean Sullivan has passed away at the age of 68, prompting heartfelt tributes from his loved ones and acquaintances. Sullivan, acclaimed for his portrayal of Jimmy Corkhill in the Channel 4 soap opera, was fondly known as ‘Jimmy’ to millions and as ‘Dino’ to his close circle.
A statement issued by Hamilton Management and his family expressed gratitude towards Arrowe Park Hospital for their steadfast and continual support during Dean’s illness. The family has appealed for privacy during this sorrowful period.
Reports from the Mirror indicated that Sullivan was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2018. After undergoing a series of radiotherapy treatments, he was discharged last year. He used his experience to advocate for attentiveness to bodily signals, urging people to heed early symptoms.
He noticed a change while using the bathroom, expressing, “I realised my urine flow had weakened. During my initial visit to the doctor, they suggested monitoring the situation. However, after a few weeks, I knew something wasn’t quite right.”
Dean elaborated, stating, “Upon revisiting the doctor, I consulted a specialist in prostate care. After a brief examination, I was swiftly referred to a consultant at the hospital. If I had followed the initial advice, the outcome might have been different. Always trust your instincts, they’re usually on point. Our innate fight or flight sense still guides us, 11 times out of 10,” as reported by the Liverpool Echo at the time.
The performer emphasised the importance of early detection as he shared details about his successful treatment, urging others to seek medical advice upon noticing any symptoms. His sister also grappled with a diagnosis of breast cancer.
Dean recounted his decision to undergo HDR (high dose rate) brachytherapy in 2019 to combat the illness. This procedure involved the insertion of slender tubes into the affected area, allowing targeted radiation to locate and eliminate cancerous cells.
Reflecting on the experience, he recounted to the Mirror, “It was a tad uncomfortable, but you endure it. I was back home within a few hours and didn’t dwell on it – an indispensable step in my battle against cancer. Afterwards, I met up with friends locally to welcome the New Year… in a kilt…”
Sharing his feelings about the diagnosis, he confessed it left him feeling “completely stunned”, stating, “I distinctly recall feeling quite stunned, because even though we’re aware nowadays that one in three individuals will receive a cancer diagnosis of some form, you never anticipate it happening to you.”
At the time of diagnosis, he chose to keep the news limited to close family and friends, explaining, “You’re the one grappling with it and coping with it, and my coping mechanism was to not allow it to dominate my life. Also, there’s this feeling of ‘I don’t want to recount this narrative again’, so only my inner circle knew. It was a case of ‘just soldier on and accept whatever comes’.”
Subsequently, medical professionals confirmed through an MRI scan that the cancer had not spread to his bones, offering relief. Recounting the moment, he shared, “Normally, I keep my phone off during holidays, but for some reason, it was on this time. The phone rang, and it was the oncology nurse, who exclaimed, ‘Oh my, you’re quite elusive!’ Then she conveyed that the scan showed everything was clear, the cancer hadn’t spread. It made my holiday even more enjoyable – my friends and I erupted in cheers when I hung up.”
Dean received the welcome news of being cancer-free in 2019, following a regimen of 20 rounds of chemotherapy.
