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Alan Browning

Known For
Acting

Known Credits
25

Gender
Male

Birthday
March 23, 1926 (100 years old)

Place of Birth
Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England, UK

Alan Browning

Biography

Alan Brown (23 March 1926 – 7 September 1979), known professionally as Alan Browning, was an English actor. Whilst working by day as a reporter for a local paper in Newcastle in the 1950s, he began acting as an amateur at the People's Theatre. He then moved to London to work for a news agency and was sent abroad to Cairo, where he met his first wife (Anne) who was serving in the Women's Royal Naval Service (Wrens).

On their return to the UK, and following encouragement from Anne, he began to seek work as an actor. Very soon he was cast as King John in a pair of educational films made for Encyclopedia Britannica, and then became a regular 'extra' playing bit parts in TV series such as Z-Cars, The Saint, and The Avengers. He also starred as Chief Officer Steve Rettar in the ABC series Jezebel in 1963.

He became a household name in the UK when he was cast as Ellis Cooper in The Newcomers (1965-1968), but is best remembered for portraying Alan Howard in the television series Coronation Street, a role he played from 1969 to 1973. He was married to his Coronation Street co-star Pat Phoenix from 23 December 1972, until his 1979 death from liver failure as a result of his heavy alcohol intake. Phoenix also played his onscreen wife, Elsie Tanner, in Coronation Street.

The pair left The Street in 1973 and toured the UK and New Zealand with theatrical productions of Gaslight and Night Must Fall, both directed by Browning, before Phoenix rejoined the cast of The Street. Browning also recorded an LP of jazz standards called "Whisky & Milk" (a reference to his preferred drink, being easier on the stomach than neat whisky) with the Tony Hayes Quartet in 1975.

Browning's other television appearances included Interpol Calling (1960), Dr. Finlay's Casebook (1962), Maigret (1963), The Plane Makers (1964), The War of Darkie Pilbeam (1968), Big Breadwinner Hog (1969), The Onedin Line (1971), The Fear Is Spreading (an episode of the TV series Thriller, 1975), When the Boat Comes In (1976), and a leading role in The Cedar Tree (1976-77). His final credit was in a 1978 episode of Return of the Saint.

His film credits included Feet of Clay (1960), Fury at Smugglers' Bay (1961), Cleopatra (1963), Guns at Batasi (1964), and Julius Caesar (1970).

Known For

Acting

1978Return of the Saintas Henry
1975The Crazy Killas Supt. Brook
1973Thrilleras Supt. Brook
1972Crown Courtas
1969The Main Chanceas Montero
1969Big Breadwinner Hogas Izzard
1965Gideon's Wayas Wilson
1964Guns at Batasias
1964The Wednesday Playas John Milburn
1964Story Paradeas D.I. Radford
1962The Saintas Cafe Proprietor
1962Dr. Finlay's Casebookas
1962Suspenseas
1962Z-Carsas
1962Gang Waras Police Sergeant
1961The Pursuersas Floor Manager
1961Part-Time Wifeas Police Sergeant
1961Fury at Smugglers' Bayas 2nd Highwayman
1961The Avengersas Moss
1961The Avengersas Zaroff
1960Maigretas
1960Jazz Boatas Policeman
1959Doctor Kabilas Anaesthetist
1959No Hiding Placeas
1957Theatre Nightas Joe Mancuso

Production