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| Emmerdale's Amos actor dies at 87 | Emmerdale's Amos actor dies at 87 |
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| Former Emmerdale star Ronald Magill, who played Amos Brearly, has died at the age of 87, his long-time friend Bernard Palmer has confirmed. | Former Emmerdale star Ronald Magill, who played Amos Brearly, has died at the age of 87, his long-time friend Bernard Palmer has confirmed. |
| Magill joined the ITV1 soap when it began in 1972 as Emmerdale Farm, and appeared in the role for 19 years. | Magill joined the ITV1 soap when it began in 1972 as Emmerdale Farm, and appeared in the role for 19 years. |
| His character was renowned for running the Woolpack pub with Henry Wilks, and for his distinctive bushy sideburns. | His character was renowned for running the Woolpack pub with Henry Wilks, and for his distinctive bushy sideburns. |
| The actor, who began his career on the stage, had a number of small TV parts before landing the role of Amos. | The actor, who began his career on the stage, had a number of small TV parts before landing the role of Amos. |
| The larger-than-life landlord was a mainstay of the soap - along with Wilks and Annie Sugden - until his departure in 1991. | The larger-than-life landlord was a mainstay of the soap - along with Wilks and Annie Sugden - until his departure in 1991. |
| However, he returned to the soap for brief appearances later that decade, including his marriage to Annie in 1995. | However, he returned to the soap for brief appearances later that decade, including his marriage to Annie in 1995. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY A class character actor who played his part brilliantly when soaps had some credibility Colin Healey, Plymouth Send us your comments | |
| Mr Palmer, 58, who was friends with Magill for more than 15 years, said the actor "loved" working on Emmerdale. | |
| "They were very much a family, and he enjoyed it very, very much indeed," he told the BBC News website. | |
| "Professionally, he was word-perfect, and I think that went back to his repertory days when he had a lot of lines to learn." | |
| Mr Palmer said that off-screen, Magill was "very much a dapper gentleman". | |
| "No matter where he was, he always had time for fans. If they came over to him, he would put his knife and fork down or whatever, and speak to them. | |
| Magill (l) returned in the early 1990s for a few one-off episodes"It was the character of Amos that people loved, but I think it was an integration of the character and him," he said. | |
| "He gave it his soul. Amos wasn't just a character. You always felt like you knew him." | |
| Emmerdale's executive producer, Keith Richardson, said everyone on the programme was "deeply saddened" at his death. | Emmerdale's executive producer, Keith Richardson, said everyone on the programme was "deeply saddened" at his death. |
| "His endearing performances secured Amos Brearly a place as one of the best-loved characters in Emmerdale's history," he said. | "His endearing performances secured Amos Brearly a place as one of the best-loved characters in Emmerdale's history," he said. |
| Theatrical background | |
| Magill was born in Hull in April 1920, but was raised in Birmingham. | |
| He started his career on the stage, and was artistic director of the Nottingham Playhouse in the 1960s. | |
| He also had a small part in the 1970 film Julius Caesar, with Charlton Heston and Sir John Gielgud. | |
| Magill made his debut as Amos Brearly in the first episode of Emmerdale, transmitted in October 1972, and left the regular cast in January 1991. His final appearance was on 7 July 1995. | |
| The sideburns really stood out for me, and I think that goes for everyone Steven Murphy, Inside Soap magazine | |
| Steven Murphy, editor of Inside Soap magazine, said Magill would be fondly remembered by Emmerdale fans. | |
| "I watched it from a very young age and just remember him being one of the archetypal characters of the time, and there have not been many like him since," he said. | "I watched it from a very young age and just remember him being one of the archetypal characters of the time, and there have not been many like him since," he said. |
| "The sideburns really stood out for me, and I think that goes for everyone. If you say his name, people still remember his sideburns and 'Nay, Mr Wilks' catchphrase." | "The sideburns really stood out for me, and I think that goes for everyone. If you say his name, people still remember his sideburns and 'Nay, Mr Wilks' catchphrase." |
| He went on: "It was a much tamer time in the Woolpack in those days - there was none of the sex and sin we see these days, but there were still strong, dramatic storylines. | He went on: "It was a much tamer time in the Woolpack in those days - there was none of the sex and sin we see these days, but there were still strong, dramatic storylines. |
| "I think his legacy lives on in characters like Betty and Edna, strong, older Yorkshire characters that you can have a bit of fun with too." | "I think his legacy lives on in characters like Betty and Edna, strong, older Yorkshire characters that you can have a bit of fun with too." |