Lynne Perrie
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| Lynne Perrie | |
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| Born | Jean Dudley April 7, 1931 Rotherham, Yorkshire, England, UK |
| Died | March 24, 2006 (aged 74) London, England, UK |
| Occupation | Television actress |
Lynne Perrie (7 April 1931 - 24 March 2006), was an English actress. She was born in Rotherham, Yorkshire, and was the sister of comedian Duggie Brown.
[edit] Career
After Rotherham Grammar School for Girls, she trained at local repertory theatres. Her first major screen role was that of Mrs Casper in the 1969 film Kes. This led to her getting the role of Ivy Tilsley (later Brennan) in the soap opera, Coronation Street. She first appeared in 1971 as a minor character, but the producers were sufficiently impressed with her performance to offer her a more substantial role from the mid 1970s when the character was joined by her family and moved in to a house on Coronation Street. In 1994, without consulting her bosses on the programme, Perrie had cosmetic surgery to make her lips look fuller, but the results were unflattering, and Perrie was sacked. Her character died off-screen the following year.
A once top cabaret star who performed in France, Germany, South Africa and the United States, Lynne even appeared on the same bill as The Rolling Stones and for 15 concerts, the Beatles who called her “girly”.
In the 1970s, Lynne had a regular role as Mrs. Petty in the comedy "Queenie's Castle" starring Diana Dors. She also appeared in countless television plays including starring roles in "Leeds United", "Slattery Mounted Foot", one episode of "Follyfoot" and two episodes of "Crown Court".
In 1979 she played a house wife in the Richard Gere film "Yanks" and had a cameo in the 1994 production of Mike Reid's Pussy in Boots where she played the role of Poison Ivy.
Following her dismissal, Lynne appeared as a guest on numerous chat shows, including a notorious appearance on Channel 4's The Word in 1994 where (amongst other acts) she performed her own embarrassing rendition of Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" — this performance was number 62 on Channel 4's list of 100 Greatest Television Moments From Hell. In 1995 she made a spoof workout video Lynne Perrie's Alternative Workout which consisted of her drinking large amounts of champagne whilst helping athletic young men out of their workout clothing. She also recorded a pop single called "Without You".
She recorded an impressive version of “You Needed Me” for the one off “Coronation Street 25th Anniversary Album” and in 1996 turned up drunk on the popular game show "Shooting Stars" where she laughted uncontrollably throughout the episode.
Her former Coronation Street bosses tried unsuccessfully to ban her autobiography from being published in 1994 in which she confessed to having passion for a string of young men. In the book she looked back on fifty years in cabaret, films and television as well as revealing the many ups and downs of her colourful life.
In 1995 she caused scandal when she appeared on Television X (A porno channel) and was shown licking a young stripper's penis. In 2004 she told various newspapers and magazines that she was planning on making an acting comeback but in keeping what friends describe as her "manic depressive character" it sadly never happened.
[edit] Life and family
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Perrie married Derrick Barksby in 1950 and gave birth to her only son Stephen in 1951. Her terminally-ill son came to prominence in the 2000s campaigning for assisted suicide. In her biography, she later admitted that she had had several affairs in the course of her marriage. She also suffered intermittent health problems, including a heart attack and a cancer scare.
Perrie died in Rotherham following a stroke, aged 74, on 24 March 2006. Of her former Coronation Street colleagues, only Helen Worth and Christopher Quinten attended her funeral. Her life and work were acknowledged at the British Academy Television Awards in 2006.
Following Lynne’s death, Johnny Briggs, who as factory boss Mike Baldwin clashed with Ivy in Coronation Street on screen, said: "She was my daughter's godmother and one of the most generous people I ever met. She would give a tramp £10 rather than walk past in the street." Liz Dawn who played Vera Duckworth said: "I am terribly saddened to hear the news. She was always full of life and great fun to work with." William Roache, who plays Ken Barlow, said: "You always knew when Lynne was in the room as the sound of her laughter was never far away."[citation needed]
