Jack Howarth (actor)

Jack Howarth MBE
Jack Howarth as Albert Tatlock in Coronation Street
Born	John Aubrey Conway Howarth (1896-02-19)19 February 1896 Rochdale, Lancashire, England
Died	31 March 1984(1984-03-31) (aged 88) Llandudno, Clwyd, Wales
Resting place	Ashes buried in Colwyn Bay
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1908–1984
Spouse	Sarah Murgatroyd ​ (m. 1929)​
Children	1

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.

Early life

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. Howarth went to school with the singer and actress Gracie Fields.

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. He joined the Lancashire Fusiliers in 1915 and served in France and Belgium in World War I.

Career

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. 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.

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."

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. For 14 years, Howarth appeared in the role of Mr Maggs in the radio serial Mrs Dale's Diary.

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. 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. 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.

Personal life and death

Howarth married Sarah E. "Betty" Murgatroyd at St Mary and St Peter Parish Church, Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, on 25 July 1929. 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.

Howarth spent his final years living in Deganwy, north Wales, with his wife. 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.

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. He was cremated six days later at a private funeral in Colwyn Bay, conducted by the vicar of Llanrhos, the Rev David Jenkins. 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. He left his wife £60,000 in his will.

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." 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.

Howarth was Britain's oldest working actor at the time of his death. 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. 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.

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

Filmography

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

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

Charity work and honours

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. 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.

External links

• Jack Howarth at IMDb
• Albert Tatlock