William Roache
| William Roache MBE |
|
|---|---|
Roache in December 2012
|
|
| Born |
William Patrick Roache 25 April 1932 Basford, Nottinghamshire, England |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1958–Present |
| Television | Coronation Street |
| Spouse(s) |
Anna Cropper (m. 1961–74) (divorced) Sarah Mottram (m. 1978–2009) (her death) |
| Partner(s) | Emma Jesson (2010–2012) |
| Children | Linus Roache (born 1964) Vanya Roache (born 1967) Verity Roache (born 1981) Edwina Roache (deceased) James Roache (born 1985) |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | Royal Welsh Fusiliers |
| Years of service | 1953–1956 |
| Rank | AC |
| Unit | Film Unit |
| Battles/wars | Korean war |
William Patrick "Bill" RoacheMBE (born 25 April 1932) is an English actor. He has played Ken Barlow in the soap opera Coronation Street since its first episode on 9 December 1960. He is listed in the Guinness World Records as the longest-serving living television actor in a continuous role.
Roache was born in Basford, Nottinghamshire, the son of Hester Vera (née Waddicor) and Joseph William Vincent Roache. He grew up in nearby Ilkeston, Derbyshire, where he attended a Steiner school set up by his grandfather in the garden of the family home. His Freemason grandfather was interested in such things as hypnotism, theosophy, spiritualism, homoeopathy and esotericism, and the teachings of philosopher and educationalist Rudolf Steiner. Roache was later educated at Rydal School which was also attended by his son Linus.
Roache joined the British Army, and was commissioned into the Royal Welch Fusiliers in 1953. A year later he was promoted to lieutenant. In 1956 he left the British Army with the rank of captain. Due to an exploding mortar round during his military service, Roache suffers from tinnitus.
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