Kenneth Cope was a renowned Liverpudlian actor, writer, and restaurateur, born to an engineer. He began his stage career with the Bristol Old Vic Company at the Theatre Royal in 1951. In 1953, Cope made his television debut, initially playing small roles in episodic television and films.
Throughout his career, Cope appeared in numerous notable series, including That Was the Week That Was, Coronation Street, Brookside, and ITC's My Partner the Ghost. He is particularly remembered for his iconic roles as Marty Hopkirk's ghost in My Partner the Ghost and as Vic Spanner in Carry on at Your Convenience and Cyril Carter in Carry on Matron.
Cope's versatility as an actor is evident in his various roles, such as the Mongol general Subotai in Genghis Khan and his appearances in TV series like The Adventures of Robin Hood, Z Cars, Dixon of Dock Green, Minder, and The Bill. He also wrote several episodes of That Was the Week That Was, the children's soccer series Striker, and the sitcom The Squirrels.
In addition to his acting career, Cope co-wrote and created the children's soccer series Striker and wrote several episodes of The Squirrels. He also co-starred in the short-lived TV sitcom Bootle Saddles, playing the main lead as Percy James.
Outside of acting, Cope and his wife Renny Lister operated several restaurants, including Martha' Kitchen and Edward's. Prior to his passing, Cope resided in Southport and contributed a regular news column to the local paper, the Southport Visitor.
Kenneth Cope left behind a legacy of remarkable performances, writing credits, and entrepreneurial ventures. He passed away on September 11, 2024, at the age of 93.
