Richard Thorp

Richard Stanley Thorp (2 January 1932 – 22 May 2013) was an English actor. He was best known for his 30-year tenure portraying Alan Turner in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale from 1982 to 2013. He also appeared in films such as The Dam Busters and The Barretts of Wimpole Street (1957).

Early life Thorp was born in Purley, London.

Career Thorp's leading television roles included Dr. John Rennie in Emergency Ward 10 from 1957 to 1961, and Doug Randall in Crossroads in 1975. He also appeared in a 1982 episode of Strangers. He was the longest-serving member of Emmerdale since the death of Clive Hornby in 2008.

Thorp appeared as Lovejoy, a British Railways official, in an episode of To the Manor Born centred on the proposed closure of the local railway station. He also appeared on Lily Savage's Blankety Blank.

Personal life Thorp was one of Emmerdale most private actors, although he gave an interview in 1995 with The People and revealed that he was separated from his wife, but they still lived in the same house together. Thorp was very good friends with Lorraine Chase, who played his on-screen daughter, Steph Stokes in Emmerdale, and Sheree Murphy, who played his on-screen granddaughter, Tricia Stokes in Emmerdale.

Thorp took a break from Emmerdale in July 2009 after undergoing a knee operation and returned in April 2010.

Death Thorp died in Shrewsbury on 22 May 2013.

Filmography Film

Television Year Title Role Notes 1959-1961 Emergency Ward 10 Dr. John Rennie 98 episodes 1962 Edgar Wallace Mysteries John Durran Episode: "The £20,000 Kiss" 1966 Watch the Birdies Pembridge 4 episodes 1971 A Family at War Derek Robbins 1973 ...And Mother Makes Three Stanley Marsh 1978 The Cedar Tree Geoffrey Cartland Series 3 1982 Strangers Det. Sgt. Jacklin 1982–2013 Emmerdale Alan Turner 2671 episodes (final appearance)