Published Sunday, 29 July 2012
Corrie actor Geoffrey Hughes (© PA)
The star passed away "peacefully in his sleep" on Friday evening after a "long courageous battle" with prostate cancer, his family said.
Hughes was known to millions of Corrie viewers as binman Eddie during the 1970s and 1980s - he was also Twiggy in The Royle Family and Onslow in Keeping Up Appearances.
A Coronation Street spokeswoman said: "We are very sad to hear of the death of Geoffrey Hughes. He created a legendary and iconic character in Eddie Yates who will always be part of Coronation Street.
"Everyone connected with the programme send our sincerest condolences to his family."
Hughes collapsed at his Isle of Wight home in 2010 and was rushed to hospital for intense radiotherapy on prostate cancer which he thought he had beaten the year before.
He and his wife Sue were given the news it had returned.
The actor, who has campaigned for cancer charities, has also played Vernon in Heartbeat and Uncle Keith in teen drama Skins, as well as guest appearances in episodes of Doctor Who, Casualty, Boon and The Upper Hand and left Coronation Street in 1984.
He was appointed Deputy Lord Lieutenant for the Isle of Wight in 2009, making him "the official link between the island and royalty at formal engagements".
Tributes poured in for Geoffrey Hughes as word spread of his death.
Long-serving Coronation Street star William Roache, who plays Ken Barlow in the soap, said: "I am so sorry to hear about Geoffrey.
"He was a warm, lovable actor, with great comedy timing. He will be greatly missed, one of the Street's memorable characters."