John Aubrey Conway Howarth MBE (19 February 1896 – 31 March 1984), better known as Jack Howarth, 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.^[1] Howarth went to school with the singer and actress Gracie Fields.^[2]

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.^[3] He joined the Lancashire Fusiliers in 1915 and served in France and Belgium in World War I.^[4]

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.^[5] 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.^[5]

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.'^[5]

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.^[3] For 14 years, Howarth appeared in the role of Mr Maggs in the radio serial Mrs. Dale's Diary.^[3]

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.^[3] 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.^[6] Reflecting on his role as Albert, he said he would never have joined the cast of Coronation Street had he known it would run so long.^[3]

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.^[7] 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.^[2]

Howarth spent his final years living in Deganwy, North Wales, with his wife.^[8] 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.^[2]

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.^[2] He was cremated six days later at a private funeral in Colwyn Bay, conducted by the vicar of Llanrhos, the Rev David Jenkins.^[2][1] 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.^[1] He left his wife £60,000 in his will.^[8]

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.'^[9] 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 in November. Howarth's death was reported on 2 April 1984.^[3]

Howarth was Britain's oldest working actor at the time of his death.^[2] 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.^[3] The decision to kill off the Albert Tatlock character was made shortly after Howarth's real life death, and Albert's death was aired 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.^[10]

Howarth's son died in January 2016, aged 85.^[11]

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.^[2] 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.^[8]