Actor who made history with TV’s first gay kiss dies aged 84: Tributes are paid to Coronation Street and The Crown star James Laurenson who famously kissed Ian McKellen in 1970 BBC broadcast of Edward II
Coronation Street and The Crown legend James Laurenson has died aged 84 after a 50-year career.
He first appeared in the long-running Manchester-based soap in 1968 as the Reverend Peter Hope.
More recently he played Scottish physician and homeopath Doctor Sir John Weir in the hit Netflix series The Crown.
Laurenson also famously performed the first gay kiss with Sir Ian McKellen in an adaptation of Christopher Marlowe’s Edward II in 1970, just three years after homosexuality was decriminalised in the UK.
Coronation Street and the Crown star James Laurenson has died aged 84
Laurenson as Richard Crossdyke in The Cry alongside Sarah Lancashire
He appeared as Scottish physician and homeopath Doctor Weir in Netflix series The Crown
Pictured: He famously performed the first gay kiss with Ian McKellen in Christopher Marlowe’s Edward II in 1970 – just three years after homosexuality was decriminalised
Laurenson in play After The Fall at the National Theatre, London in 1990
He is survived by second wife Cari Haysom and his son Jamie, from his previous marriage to actress Carol Macready.
Born in New Zealand, Laurenson studied at what was then Canterbury University College in Christchurch before moving to the UK.
His film debut was a supporting role in Women in Love in 1969. He went on to appear in numerous Shakespearean productions including Richard II and Hamlet.
He also played the lead role in the West End production 42nd Street at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in 1984 – his only performance in a musical.
Although not himself gay, Laurenson became known in 1970 after performing the first male same-sex kiss with Ian McKellen.
His co-star remarked that the kiss was ‘a bonus throughout the run’.
Laurenson starred in All for Love at the Almeida Theatre in London opposite Diana Rigg
The Olivier award nominated actor first appeared in Coronation Street in 1968
James Laurenson as Harry McDonald in TV programme Crown Court
Laurenson as Professor George Amory in ITV series Endeavour – a spin off of Inspector Morse
He also starred in Waiting for Godot at the Theatre Royal in Bath. He moved to Somerset in the 1990s
Laurenson is survived by his second wife Cari Haysom and his son Jamie
As Peter Williams in series one of BBC show Hustle, with Robert Vaughan (right)
Laurenson with Pamela Stephenson in series 2 of Space 1999 in November 1976
Among his other credits are Midsomer Murders, Bergerac, Lovejoy, Taggart and Prime Suspect.
He starred in the BBC version of Henry IV in The Hollow Crown as the Earl of Westmoreland, and as Professor George Amory in ITV’s Endeavour.
The actor moved to Frome, Somerset in the 1990s where he enjoyed time ‘away from the spotlight’ walking his dog Maisie.
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