Jack Howarth (actor)

Early life

John Aubrey Conway Howarth was born at 96 Mitchell Street, Rochdale, Lancashire (now Greater Manchester) on Wednesday, 19 February 1896, the son of comedian Bert Howarth and his wife Amelia Mary (née Townsend). 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, he 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 his wife Betty.

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, however when he was awarded the MBE in 1983, he stated he had no intentions of leaving the series, and he remained with the show until he's death aged 88, in which producer Mervyn Watson stated he was most likely at that time the oldest working actor in England.

Personal life

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

Howarth lived at Croylands, Overlea Avenue, Deganwy, north Wales, with his wife. The couple had a flat in London, and a suite at the Midland Hotel in Manchester, which he used whilst filming Coronation Street. His interests included travel and paintings along with cricket and circuses.The North Wales Weekly News Thu, 05 Apr 1984 ·Page 4

Death

Jack Howarth died in Llandudno General Hospital from kidney failure and pneumonia with his wife and son at his bedside on Saturday, 31 March 1984. 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 and his contract would not be renewed in November 1984. However, these were disputed by Granada, stating that he was due to return to filming at the end of April 1984. His wife was reported as saying just over a month before his death "Jack has no intention of resigning. He will be in Coronation Street for as long as Granada want him."

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 the Albert Tatlock character, 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 on 4 January 2016, aged 85.West Yorkshire, England; England and Wales Death Indexes England and Wales, Death Index, 1989-2024.

Filmography

Permanent role

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.

References

References

1. (1984-04-06). "Jack Howarth". Manchester Evening News.
2. (2 April 1984). "Star of the Street". [[The Guardian]].
3. (1984-04-02). "Jack Howarth obituary". The Daily Telegraph.
4. Daily Mirror – 12 November 1980
5. (1984-04-02). "Jack Howarth". Manchester Evening News.
6. (1995). "The New Guinness book of records, 1996". Guinness Pub.
7. "Yorkshire Marriage Indexes Search".
8. The North Wales Weekly News Thu, 25 Jan 1962 ·Page 13
9. (31 July 1984). "Street Star Albert's £60,000". [[Evening Standard]].
10. Sunday Mirror Sun, 01 Apr 1984 ·Page 3
11. (1984-02-23). "Jack Howarth". Manchester Evening News.
12. (19 June 1984). "Stars pay tribute to 'Albert'". [[Evening Standard]].