Christopher Quinten
Encyclopedia
Christopher Quinten is a British
actor
, best known for his role as Brian Tilsley on Coronation Street
, which he played from 1978 to 1989.
, starring Tatum O'Neal
. This appearance was noticed by the Coronation Street casting offices, who gave Ivy Tilsley, the oft-seen Baldwin's worker, a son. Quinten was then signed to the programme, for which he worked for over a decade. His pairing with Gail Potter (played by Helen Worth
) proved very popular for the serial in the 1980s.
In 1989, Quinten told the casting office that he was going to move to the United States
to marry his then-fiancée, American talk show
host Leeza Gibbons
. The couple had met in 1988 in New Zealand
while appearing on a Telethon, and Quinten had been hoping to stay in the series as a part-time character, but the producers rejected his offer to stay on part-time, and at the end of 1988 the decision was made to kill the character off. His final episode was aired on 15 February 1989, when Brian Tilsley was stabbed to death by a gang of teenagers outside a nightclub.
Once settled in the United States, Quinten and Gibbons worked together on the film RoboCop 2
, and had one daughter, Lexi Quinten. The couple divorced in 1991 but are still reportedly on good terms. Quinten has been married to Paula Holmes since 1992, but they are now separated.
In August 2005 Quinten was charged with rape http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4176910.stm. In June 2006 he was cleared of this charge, and lives with his partner Alison (ex-Stringfellow's dancer) and their 14-month-old daughter Sydney http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/5065664.stm
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, best known for his role as Brian Tilsley on Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
, which he played from 1978 to 1989.
Career
Quinten first had a role in the 1978 film International VelvetInternational Velvet (film)
International Velvet is a 1978 dramatic film. It was a remake of the 1944 classic, National Velvet. The film stars Tatum O'Neal, Christopher Plummer, Anthony Hopkins and Nanette Newman. The film got mixed reviews.-Plot:...
, starring Tatum O'Neal
Tatum O'Neal
Tatum Beatrice O'Neal is an American actress best known for her film work as a child actress in the 1970s. She is the youngest to win a competitive Academy Award, at the age of 10, which she won for her performance as Addie Loggins in Paper Moon opposite her father Ryan O'Neal...
. This appearance was noticed by the Coronation Street casting offices, who gave Ivy Tilsley, the oft-seen Baldwin's worker, a son. Quinten was then signed to the programme, for which he worked for over a decade. His pairing with Gail Potter (played by Helen Worth
Helen Worth
Helen Worth is an English actress, best known for her portrayal of the Coronation Street character Gail McIntyre- Early life :...
) proved very popular for the serial in the 1980s.
In 1989, Quinten told the casting office that he was going to move to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to marry his then-fiancée, American talk show
Talk show
A talk show or chat show is a television program or radio program where one person discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host....
host Leeza Gibbons
Leeza Gibbons
Leeza Kim Gibbons is an American talk show host. Gibbons is the host of her own radio show, Hollywood Confidential, part of the United Stations radio syndication company.-Early life:...
. The couple had met in 1988 in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
while appearing on a Telethon, and Quinten had been hoping to stay in the series as a part-time character, but the producers rejected his offer to stay on part-time, and at the end of 1988 the decision was made to kill the character off. His final episode was aired on 15 February 1989, when Brian Tilsley was stabbed to death by a gang of teenagers outside a nightclub.
Once settled in the United States, Quinten and Gibbons worked together on the film RoboCop 2
RoboCop 2
RoboCop 2 is a 1990 science fiction action film directed by Irvin Kershner and starring Peter Weller, Nancy Allen, Dan O'Herlihy, Belinda Bayer, Tom Noonan and Gabriel Damon. Set in the near future in a dystopian metropolitan Detroit, Michigan...
, and had one daughter, Lexi Quinten. The couple divorced in 1991 but are still reportedly on good terms. Quinten has been married to Paula Holmes since 1992, but they are now separated.
In August 2005 Quinten was charged with rape http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4176910.stm. In June 2006 he was cleared of this charge, and lives with his partner Alison (ex-Stringfellow's dancer) and their 14-month-old daughter Sydney http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/5065664.stm