Coronation Street and Mrs Brown's Boys star Frank Grimes has left £125,000 to his beloved wife after he died at 78 years of age.
The much-loved actor, who was also a Tony Award nominee, passed away on August 1, last year, surrounded by his family following a short illness.
His death was announced by the Irish Cultural Centre in London, which described him as 'one of Ireland's greatest actors' in a heartfelt statement.
Born in Cabra in 1947, the youngest of seven children, he found early fame in the play Borstal Boy in Dublin, before it transferred to London and Paris.
The show was such a success it headed to Broadway, where Grimes received a Tony nomination and the Most Promising Actor Award by the New York critics.
Later in his career, he played Kym Marsh's onscreen father, Barry Connor, for seven years on ITV's famed cobbled streets before leaving in 2015.
The grandfather-of-seven and television favourite also featured in Casualty, The Bill, Doctors and even took to the stage playing a role in Shakespeare's Hamlet.
His estate, which had a gross value of £387,326, was left to his second wife Ginnette, with the inheritance amounting to £127,521 after deductions.
Coronation Street and Mrs Brown's Boys star Frank Grimes left £125,000 to his wife Ginette (pictured as Barry Connor in Coronation Street 2008)
The beloved actor and Tony Award nominee passed away on August 1, last year, surrounded by his family (Pictured with onscreen daughter Kym Marsh on Corrie)
The actor married his first wife actress Michele Lohan, with whom he shared two sons David and Andrew, in 1968. David sadly died in 2011.
Following their divorce, he went on to wed Ginnette Clarke in 1984, with whom he later had a daughter, Tilly.
Both of his children, Andrew and Tilly, were named as executors.
The grant of probate reads: 'Francis Patrick Grimes, of Barnes, died on 1 August, 2025.
'The last will and testament was proved and registered before the High Court of Justice.
'The application has stated that the gross value of the estate amounts to £387,326, and the net value amounts to £127,521.'
His will, written in 2016, states: 'I direct that all my debts and funeral and testamentary expenses be paid as soon as is convenient after my death.
'I leave my estate to my wife Ginnette Grimes.'
At the time of his death, a spokesperson for The Irish Cultural Centre said he was 'so warm hearted, full of Dublin wit and charm in abundance and he had a beautiful sparkle in his eyes.
'It's with deep sadness and heavy hearts that the ICC has to regretfully inform you that the great Irish actor FRANK GRIMES suddenly sadly passed away in the early hours of Friday morning, August 1st, after a very short illness, surrounded by his wife and family'.
'Frank was undoubtedly one of Ireland's greatest actors, he was a dearly loved friend of the ICC's and over the past three decades, he trod the ICC's stage on so many occasions. Anyone who saw Frank perform his riveting self-penned production "the he and the she of it…A Portrait of James Joyce", will know what a thrilling, powerful, unforgettable performance it was!!'
'Frank performed this superb tribute to his hero James Joyce, on whom he was an expert, three times at the ICC, and each time, every night, he received standing ovations! Frank was a spell-binding actor who had the most beautiful, mesmerising voice and he often appeared on the radio show Bright Side Of The Road''.
They continued: 'Frank Grimes was born in Dublin, he trained at the Abbey Theatre and was a member of the Abbey Players. He scored an early success as Brendan Behan in Borstal Boy at the Abbey in Dublin, Paris and on Broadway, where he was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actor and was voted ‘Most Promising Actor’ by the New York critics.
'Frank worked extensively in the theatre in London; at the National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal Court and in London’s West End. His many Film and TV credits included A Bridge Too Far, Tulips of Harlem, The Outsider;'
'He played Father O’Conner in Strumpet City, for which he won the Jacobs Award, Kavanagh QC, Blind Justice, for which he was awarded the Silver Nymph for best actor; He appeared in Mrs Brown’s Boys and played Barry in Coronation Street.'
They went on: 'He wrote several plays, including The Fishing Trip and Wake n See, which had a play reading at the ICC. He premiered his hit one-man show on James Joyce, “…the he and the she of it…” here at the ICC, after which it was produced in Dublin, London and Paris.
'Frank was so warm-hearted, full of Dublin wit and charm in abundance, and he had a beautiful sparkle in his eyes. We know that Ireland has lost one of its truly great actors, the vintage of which is so rare and may never ever be matched again.
Pictured Framl Grimes in The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes in 1991. He also starred in Coronation Street, Mrs Borwn's Boys as well as countless other shows
Before adding: 'We are so sad to have to say goodbye to Frank, but we are also so blessed to have known him, to have worked with him and seen him perform. We send our sincere condolences to his wife Ginnette,'
'His daughter Tilly, his son Andrew, his 7 grandchildren and to all his extended family. We also send our condolences to all of Frank's friends and loved ones - May Frank sleep easy now and Rest In Peace'
At the time of his death, a spokesperson for The Irish Cultural Centre said: 'Frank was undoubtedly one of Ireland's greatest actors.
'He was a dearly loved friend of the ICC's and over the past three decades, he trod the ICC's stage on so many occasions. '
They accompanied the statement with a clip of Frank reciting a string poems which he filmed during the Covid lockdown.
Meanwhile, the Abbey Theatre Dublin, where he rose to fame in Borstal Boy said they were 'saddened to learn of [Frank's] passing'
'A versatile actor and former Abbey Company player, Frank performed in various productions on both the Abbey and Peaock stages from 1965 to 1972, including plays by Sean O’Casey, Lady Gregory, Oliver Goldsmith, Thomas Kilroy, J.M. Synge, Willliam Shakespeare, Bernard Shaw and Tom MacIntyre.'
