Screen wife Julie Goodyear will treasure their happy times together
as hardware shop owner Mr Cobbledick in kids’ show Pardon My Genie.
He also starred in episodes of Rising Damp and George and Mildred.
Roy made occasional appearances on Corrie as talent agent Alec Gilroy until he took the role on full-time between 1986 and 1998.
Co-star Bev Callard, 60, who plays barmaid Liz McDonald, said: “I will be forever indebted to Roy – he was one of the people who trained me in all the skills required for working in a long-running series like this.
“He almost got me sacked many times because he made me laugh so much.
“|It was a joy to be in his company – he was one of the funniest people I knew and he had the biggest heart. I feel honoured to have known and worked with him.”
Simon Gregson, who plays Steve McDonald, added: “Roy’s passing has come as a huge and sad shock.
“I learnt so much from Roy and was very proud to call him a friend. He was always lovely to me and I will miss him very much.”
After Coronation Street, Roy resumed his stage career, starring in a successful tour of Death of a Salesman, and continued acting on TV – most recently as Mr Grainger in last year’s tribute to Are You Being Served?
That role reunited him with Sherrie Hewson, 66, who he also worked with on Corrie when she played Maureen Webster.
Sherrie said: “We spent the whole week in a hotel together, eating together every night.
“He made me laugh so hard I feel off my seat in the middle of the restaurant.
“He had such a straight face – when the waiter came up to help me, he said, ‘Don’t give her any more wine, will you?’
“Roy is one of the funniest men I’ve ever met but one of the kindest and loveliest too.”