Tributes paid to Rab C and River City star Sean
ACTOR Sean Scanlan, who starred in TV series’ such as Rab C Nesbitt, 200 Acres of Sky and more recently River City, has died.
The 68-year-old, who played Rab’s posh Anglo cousin Shug in Nesbitt, has died of throat cancer.
Sean, who lived in Glasgow’s West End, was married to actress Barbara Rafferty, who starred in Nesbitt as Ella Cotter.
Barbara, who had to pull out of The Wedding Singer musical comedy running this week at the King’s Theatre, says her partner of 20 years revealed real dignity in the final moments.
“Sean was still thinking about others,” she says of the hugely popular actor.
“He was worrying about me being on my own. And right until the end he revealed an amazing sense of humour.”
Sean and Barbara were scheduled to appear together in the recent production of John Byrne’s Cuttin’ A Rug, until Sean’s illness was diagnosed.
“We had wonderful years together,” says Barbara.
“We lived together and worked together. “And every day with Sean was something special.”
Barbara added: “Someone once said ‘Sean doesn’t quite walk as much as he cha-chas’ and that summed up this man who was so charismatic, who looked so great strolling around in his white trench coat.
“He was funny, and so clever.”
Elaine C Smith had known Sean Scanlan for 30 years.
“Sean was a huge actor, a legend,” she says.
“I first realised how good he was when I saw him in TV dramas such as Roy Marsden.
“Then I went on to work with him in the likes of BBC’s 2000 Acres of Sky, in which he was my l ove interest, which was really funny given Babs is my great pal.
“But more importantly, Sean was a man everybody loved. He had a great wisdom and having had something of a wild life early on, he could counsel others, but without being evangelical.”
Elaine added: “What was amazing about Sean Scanlan was he really loved life.
“This came across when he worked in panto with me, or seeing him socially.”
Elaine added: “Barbara and Sean have been like family to me.
“Now, lovely Sean is gone. And it’s not fair.”
Sean Scanlan lost his two brothers to cancer in recent years.
He is survived by his sister Barbara. Funeral details will be announced shortly.