John Aubrey Conway Howarth MBE (19 February 1896 – 31 March 1984) was an English stage, radio and television actor, best remembered for his role as grumpy but likeable elderly war veteran Albert Tatlock in the TV series Coronation Street between 1960 and 1984, in which he was an original cast member. Prior to his work with Coronation Street, he had a lengthy career in theatre, and in the radio soap opera Mrs. Dale's Diary.

Jack Howarth
Jack Howarth as Albert Tatlock in Coronation Street
Born
John Aubrey Conway Howarth

(1896-02-19)19 February 1896
Died31 March 1984(1984-03-31) (aged 88)
Resting placeAshes buried in Colwyn Bay
OccupationActor
Years active1908–1984
Spouse
Sarah Murgatroyd
(m. 1929)
Children1

Early life

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Born at 96 Mitchell Street, Rochdale, Lancashire, Howarth was the son of Amelia Mary (née Townsend) and comedian Bert Howarth. He had two brothers, Sydney and Sam, and three sisters, Ella, Elsie and Mary Louisa.[1] Howarth went to school with the singer and actress Gracie Fields.[2]

As a child, Howarth sold theatre programmes at the Theatre Royal, Rochdale, and in 1908 at the age of twelve he began playing juvenile roles on stage alongside his father.[3] He joined the Lancashire Fusiliers in 1915 and served in France and Belgium in World War I.[4]

Career

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Howarth ran a small cinema after the First World War. From 1935, he also ran his own theatre in Colwyn Bay, taking most of the male roles himself, due to the lack of men available to play the parts. He appeared in the first stage production of Dracula in 1924, in a company run by Hamilton Deane.[5] He toured the country in theatre performances where he met and married his wife Betty in Hull on 25 July 1929. On Howarth's wedding day, Deane approached Howarth and asked him to appear on stage in Dracula in Sheffield that night.[5]

In 1947, Howarth was one of the first television performers at Alexandra Palace. He recalled, "I once played Humpty Dumpty when the director decided I had to wear a costume like a big egg, with little arms and legs. It was very hot and uncomfortable and when I got to the Jabberwocky poem I dried up, but kept talking. When we did the repeat later, I dried up at exactly the same place."[5]

Howarth also appeared in a number of films including The Man in the White Suit (1951) and Hobson's Choice (1954), and many television programmes.[3] For 14 years, Howarth appeared in the role of Mr Maggs in the radio serial Mrs Dale's Diary.[3]

Howarth made his Coronation Street debut in the first episode on 9 December 1960 and appeared in over 1,700 episodes until his final appearance on 25 January 1984, which was recorded in December 1983.[3] He was listed in The Guinness Book of Records under the category "Most Durable Performers" for being an actor on stage and television for 76 years from 1907 until his last appearance as Albert Tatlock in 1984.[6] Reflecting on his role as Albert, Howarth said he would never have joined the cast of Coronation Street had he known it would run so long.[3]

Personal life and death

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Howarth married Sarah E. "Betty" Murgatroyd at St Mary and St Peter Parish Church, Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, on 25 July 1929.[7] The couple were married for 55 years until Howarth's death, and had a son, John Jr., in 1930. It was reported that Howarth bought his wife so much jewellery, she had to keep it in the bank.[2]

Howarth spent his final years living in Deganwy, north Wales, with his wife.[8] The couple had a flat in London, and a suite at the Midland Hotel in Manchester, while filming Coronation Street. His interests included travel and paintings.[2]

On 31 March 1984, Howarth died in Llandudno General Hospital from kidney failure and pneumonia, aged 88, with his wife and son at his bedside.[2] He was cremated six days later at a private funeral in Colwyn Bay, conducted by the vicar of Llanrhos, the Rev David Jenkins.[2][1] The address was given by comedian Wyn Calvin, chairman of the Welsh Committee of the Variety Club of Great Britain. There was one hymn, "Abide with Me", and Calvin spoke on behalf of the Stars Organisation and the Grand Order of Water Rats.[1] He left his wife £60,000 in his will.[8]

Prior to his death, Howarth had a lengthy absence from filming Coronation Street, explained by a storyline of Albert visiting his daughter. There was press speculation in several newspapers that Howarth was due to leave Coronation Street; however, these were disputed by Granada, stating that he was due to return to filming in April 1984. His wife was reported as saying "Jack has no intention of resigning. He will be in Coronation Street for as long as Granada want him."[9] The last speculative newspaper article appeared on 1 April 1984 in The Mirror, a day after his death, reporting that his contract would not be renewed that November. Howarth's death was reported on 2 April 1984.[3]

Howarth was Britain's oldest working actor at the time of his death.[2] His death meant that William Roache, who played Albert Tatlock's nephew-in-law, Ken Barlow, was the only original actor left on Coronation Street at that time.[3] The decision to kill off Albert Tatlock was made shortly after Howarth's death, and Albert's death was covered in the episode dated 14 May 1984.

A memorial service was held on 19 June 1984, at St Paul's Church, Covent Garden, attended by Leslie Crowther, Dickie Henderson, Geoff Love and David Jacobs.[10]

Howarth's son died in January 2016, aged 85.[11]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1946 Jeannie Porter TV movie
1947 Mine Own Executioner Party Guest Uncredited
1948 The Men from the Ministry TV movie
1949 Alice's Adventure's in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass Humpty Dumpty TV movie
1949 Under the Counter Mr. Burrouughs TV movie
1949 The Bear and the Barrier Pigeon Luka TV Short
1949 When We Are Married Alderman Joseph Helliwell TV movie
1949 The Cure for Love Hunter
1950 The Magnet Auction bidder Uncredited
1950–1956 BBC Sunday Night Theatre Timothy "Tubby" Wadlow / Mr Bullamy / Cast member 'The Island of Cipango' / Harry Wall / Amos Entwhistle / Ted Munter / Joe Robinson / Sam Ramsdale 8 episodes
1951 The Man in the White Suit Receptionist at Corland Mill
1951 A Legend in China On the Plate: Second Servant TV movie
1952 Francis and Juniper Merchant TV Short
1952 Exercise Hush Ted, the postman TV movie
1952 The Secret Garden Pedler Episode: "The Door in the Wall"
1952 Scotland Yard Inspector Minor role Uncredited
1952 The Pickwick Papers Stout Cricketer Episode: "The Second Paper"
1953 The Great Game Minor role Uncredited
1953 The Shadow Man Landlord Uncredited
1953 Stand by to Shoot Tug Wilson Episode: "Falling Star"
1953 The Persian Kitten Mr Clay TV movie
1954 Hobson's Choice Tubby Wadlow
1954 What Every Woman Wants Pub Customer
1955 The Prince and the Pauper Constable Episode: "Hendon Hall"
1955 Postmark for Danger Hotel Porter Uncredited
1956 My Sister and I Grandfather 6 episodes
1956 Vanity Fair Waiter at Vauchhall Gardens 1 episode
1957 Nathanial Titlark Croom – Garage owner Episode: "O Woodman, Spare That Tree"
1957 Final at Fernell Joe Trubshaw TV Short
1957 The Mail Van Murder Scotland Yard (film series) Cleaner Short, Uncredited
1957 Professor Tim Villager
1957–1958 Be Soon 3 episodes
1958 Champion Road Mr Briggs 2 episodes
1959 ITV Play of the Week Mr Fowle Episode: "The Younger Generation"
1959 The Artful Dodger Episode: "Going, Going, Gone!"
1959 The Man From Room 5143 Publican Episode: "The Man Who Made Keys: Part 1"
1959 Glencannon Mr. Tooth Episode: "Pearl of Panama"
1960 Probation Officer Mr Boyd 1 episode
1960 Yorky Mr Sellby Episode: "What's in a Name?"
1960 Emergency - Ward 10 Bertie Wallsaw 1 episode
1960 BBC Sunday-Night Play Harry Episode: "Pay Day"
1960 Knight Errand Limited Bootle Episode: "The Conspirators"
1960 The Balloon and the Barron Mr Brown TV movie
1961 Armchair Theatre Uncle Fred Episode: "Honeymoon Postponed"
1969 All-Star Comedy Carnival Albert Tatlock TV movie
1970 Spring and Port Wine 2nd bowler
1974 This Is Your Life (British TV series) Himself Broadcast in November

Permanent role

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Year Title Role Notes
1960–1984 Coronation Street Albert Tatlock 1304 episodes, (final appearance)

Charity work and honours

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Howarth was the subject of This Is Your Life in November 1974 when he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews on the set of Coronation Street. When Andrews said, "I'm taking you to London", Howarth replied "Oh no, you're not, you know." He was eventually persuaded to appear on the show, joined by the cast of Coronation Street, with tributes from stars including Bryan Mosley, Betty Driver, Eileen Derbyshire, Margot Bryant, Thora Hird and Arthur Lowe.

Howarth was made an MBE in January 1983 for his charity work, especially for supporting the disabled and children with general learning difficulties.[2] He was national vice-president for Scope and left them £250 in his will. Howarth had raised more than £50,000 for the charity by collecting a donation each time he signed an autograph.[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Jack Howarth". Manchester Evening News. 6 April 1984. p. 66. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Star of the Street". The Guardian. 2 April 1984.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Jack Howarth obituary". The Daily Telegraph. 2 April 1984. p. 15. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  4. ^ Daily Mirror – 12 November 1980
  5. ^ a b c "Jack Howarth". Manchester Evening News. 2 April 1984. p. 46. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  6. ^ Norris McWhirter; Peter Matthews (1995). The New Guinness book of records, 1996. Enfield: Guinness Pub. p. 159. ISBN 0-85112-646-4. OCLC 33486454.
  7. ^ "Yorkshire Marriage Indexes Search". Archived from the original on 2 February 2003. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
  8. ^ a b c "Street Star Albert's £60,000". Evening Standard. 31 July 1984.
  9. ^ "Jack Howarth". Manchester Evening News. 23 February 1984. p. 173. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  10. ^ "Stars pay tribute to 'Albert'". Evening Standard. 19 June 1984.
  11. ^ West Yorkshire, England; England and Wales Death Indexes England and Wales, Death Index, 1989-2021.
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