The family and publicist of British actor Dean Sullivan has confirmed his death at the age of 68.

Sullivan was best known for his portrayal of Jimmy Corkhill in the Channel 4 series "Brookside" between 1986 and 2003.

In a statement, his family said the actor "passed away peacefully following a short illness" and are asking the public to respect their privacy as they grieve his death.

"Dean is best remembered as the longest serving cast member of Channel 4's groundbreaking Brookside playing the role of Jimmy Corkhill, making Dean a British soap icon," Sullivan's family said. "To millions he was and very much still is remembered as 'Jimmy,' to family and friends he was 'Dino.'"

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(Photo : Richard Martin-Roberts/Getty Images)
Actor Dean Sullivan and Actress Sue Johnston arrive at the Premiere of 'Make Us Dream' at FACT on November 15, 2018 in Liverpool, England.

Remembering Dean Sullivan

Sullivan was born, raised, and educated in Liverpool and began his career in Brookside when the show was at its peak. The BBC said that it regularly drew around 8 million audiences.

In 2003, Sullivan won the British Soap Award for his outstanding role as Corkhill in "Brookside," which began its run in November 1982 and ended its final episode in 2003 with Corkhill's face filling the screen in its very last scene.

Among those who mourned Sullivan's death was playwright Jonathan Harvey, who said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that his role as Jimmy Corkhill was "iconic."

"What terribly sad news," he added. "My thoughts are with his many friends and family."

George Christopher, who played Jimmy Corkhill's son Little Jimmy in the show, also gave tribute to Sullivan and his mentorship as an actor.

"He was a natural actor who excelled just at the right times in Brookside," he added. "Brookside wouldn't have been Brookside without Jimmy, it's as simple as that."

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