Irish actor Frank Grimes, known for Coronation Street and Mrs Brown’s Boys, left his beloved wife Ginnette a huge inheritance after his death at the age of 78 following a short illness
Coronation Street and Mrs Brown’s Boys star Frank Grimes has left £125,000 to his cherished wife following his death at the age of 78. The acclaimed actor, who was also a Tony Award nominee, passed away on 1 August last year, surrounded by his family after a brief illness. His death was confirmed by the Irish Cultural Centre in London, which paid tribute to him as ‘one of Ireland’s greatest actors’ in a moving statement.
Born in Cabra in 1947, the youngest of seven children, he achieved early recognition in the play Borstal Boy in Dublin, before it transferred to London and Paris. The production proved so successful it moved to Broadway, where Grimes secured a Tony nomination and the Most Promising Actor Award from the New York critics.
In later years, he portrayed Kym Marsh’s onscreen father, Barry Connor, for seven years on ITV’s iconic cobbled streets before departing in 2015. The grandfather-of-seven and television favourite also appeared in Casualty, The Bill, Doctors and even performed on stage in a production of Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
His estate, which had a gross value of £387,326, was bequeathed to his second wife Ginnette, with the inheritance totalling £127,521 after deductions. The actor married his first wife, actress Michele Lohan, with whom he had two sons David and Andrew, in 1968. David tragically died in 2011.
After their divorce, he married Ginnette Clarke in 1984, with whom he later had a daughter, Tilly. Both of his children, Andrew and Tilly, were named as executo 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, drafted in 2016, outlined his final wishes: “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.”
Following his passing, a spokesperson for The Irish Cultural Centre paid a heartfelt tribute, describing him as ‘so warm hearted, full of Dublin wit and charm in abundance and he had a beautiful sparkle in his eyes.
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“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!”
The tribute continued: “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.”
They concluded: “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”.
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