Actor Michael McStay has died at the age of 92, his family have confirmed.
The veteran actor famously played Alan Hoyle in Coronation Street in 2011 – taking over from actor John Woodvine. It would become his final ever screen performance in a career that spanned over 60 years.
The soap has lost a number of its former stars in recent weeks, including Dennis Tanner star Phillip Lowrie and Charlie Whelan actor John Saint Ryan. Actress Kathryn Apanowicz also passed earlier this year.
The TV star died of heart failure on Sunday (May 18). It’s believed he died in his sleep following lunch with his sons and ‘went at peace’.
(Image: BBC)
The actor’s representative wrote: “It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Michael McStay, an actor of the highest standing and talented writer, whose career across stage, screen and radio spanned over six decades.”
Another of Michael’s notable roles came in 1976, when he played Derek Moberley in Doctor Who, when Tom Baker was playing the Fourth Doctor. Michael also appeared in popular TV shows such as No Hiding Place, Blunt, and Thatcher: The Final Days.
(Image: ITV)
Fans of the star have paid tribute to Michael following news of his passing. One wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “Sad to see that Michael McStay has passed away. Absolutely adored him in Corrie as Alan Hoyle in the John Stape storyline. Both him and the late Jean Fergusson were brilliant in the basement episode.”
Another, who had met the actor last year, spoke of how “sharp” and “witty” Michael was for his age. They commented : “Someone else I had the pleasure of meeting again yesterday was Michael McStay who at 91 was as sharp & witty to chat with as a man half his age.
“Known for playing Moberley in #DoctorWho The Seeds Of Doom (1976), he’s also starred in The Avengers & The Persuaders!”
Another penned: “For me, Michael McStay will always be scientist Derek Moberley in the Doctor Who story “The Seeds of Doom” (1975) opposite Tom Baker”.
Michael has been credited on a number of films, including Peter Yates’ Robbery. He also wrote several plays for BBC Radio 4 and penned the popular 1984 ITV comedy Pull the Other One.
In an interview on Toby Hadoke’s Happy Times and Places podcast, Michael said that “he wouldn’t swap for all the success in the world” for his loving family. He had been asked if he regretted not getting the role of James Bond.
In 1967, Michael married actress Jennifer Clulow, who also appeared in No Hiding Place and is known for her roles in The Avengers and Keeping Up Appearances. He is survived by Jennifer and their two sons Darius and Paul.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
