The son of Coronation Street favourite Bill, who played Jack Duckworth for over 30 years in the ITV soap, died yesterday. Both Bill and Carl had campaigned to raise funds and awareness for Brain Tumour Research, who confirmed the news of his death in a statement on their website. Actor Bill died in 2012 at the age of 71, three years after his son’s diagnosis. He had previously quit his job on Coronation Street in order to spend more time with Carl.
A statement shared by Brain Tumour Research said Carl “defied odds after he was told the aggressive tumour could lead to his death within 12 months”.
They said Carl had been “hailed by friends as an inspiration”, adding: “Our heartfelt condolences go out to all who knew and loved Carl.”
Carl previously told Brain Tumour Research how he had been diagnosed after suffering a seizure and undergoing subsequent tests.
He told the website: “Doctors spotted some kind of growth on the top of my brain. I was sent to The Christie for more tests and then on to the Salford Royal to see a neurosurgeon. Every time I was referred on, we became more and more worried that this was serious.”
He said he had undergone surgery to remove as much of a “lemon-sized” tumour as possible, with a biopsy then taking place to identity it.
“They were not able to get all of it as its delicate position meant that I could have been paralysed during surgery,” he said. “But I was told that the operation went well.
“After an agonising two-week wait for the biopsy results, we heard the shocking news that I had an aggressive glioma, probably stage three or four.”
He was told he probably had a year to live without treatment.
After passing the one-year mark, he said doctors told him it was possible to live another six years and that he might “reach the 20 per cent of brain tumour patients who fall in to the category of long-term survival”.
In recent years, Carl learned he had a second tumour, which progressed from being “benign” to “misbehaving”.
He said he had undergone radiotherapy and was set for a course of chemotherapy as a result.
Carl spoke about coming to “trust alternative treatments”, saying he had also been using herbal tablets since his diagnosis.
“I have too much to live for to give up now,” he said.
Writing in 2017, the father-of-three wrote said: “Although we lost dad in 2012, and then mum three years later, I have been around to see my children grow into fantastic people.”
He also revealed 2019 marked his silver wedding anniversary with his wife Sandra.
Manchester-born Carl was a pub landlord and previously worked in the building trade for 20 years.