Actress Stephanie Cole, famed for Tenko, Open All Hours and Coronation Street, died at 84 after living with Alzheimer’s, leaving a long‑standing TV, stage and radio career and an OBE.
Actress Stephanie Cole died at age 84, with her agent John Grant confirming she had been living with Alzheimer’s disease for several years. The statement issued on behalf of her family noted her distinguished career and charitable work.
Cole’s career spanned television, radio and theatre. She is remembered for roles such as Dr Beatrice Mason in the 1980s BBC drama Tenko, Mrs Delphine Featherstone in Open All Hours, Sylvia Goodwin in Coronation Street, and appearances in the 2010s reboot Still Open All Hours, Gentleman Jack, Doc Martin and The Cleaner (2021). She won awards including best TV comedy actress for Waiting For God and a comedy prize at the 2012 British Soap Awards.
Born in Solihull and trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Cole performed on stage from age 17, including a West End production of A Passionate Woman and a revival of Blithe Spirit. She was appointed OBE in 2005 for services to drama, the elderly and mental‑health charities. She was married twice, survived by a daughter, Emma Battcock.
The available reporting provides these details but offers no further information on the circumstances of her death beyond the Alzheimer’s diagnosis.