Scots TV actor Stevie Hannan dies, aged 55

Stevie Hannan collapsed at his home in South Queensferry on Saturday morning and could not be revived, despite receiving first aid from his partner Lesley Gardner and paramedics.

A familiar face due to his appearances on everything from crime hits Taggart and Rebus to Doctor Finlay, he trained at Glasgow’s Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Despite film credits including California Sunshine and On a Clear Day, his greatest love was the stage – and he was proud of being able to say he had acted in every theatre in Scotland.

Over the years he worked with a range of theatre companies including Borderline, Wildcat and the Byre, and was last seen playing Governor Ridgeway in the national tour of David Gooderson’s play Hector.

A lifelong fan of Celtic, he also appeared in The Johnny Thomson Story and The Celtic Story, as well as starring in George Rosie’s It Had To Be You and The Blasphemer early in his career.

Memorably, he once played 18 different roles in Tony Roper’s Rikki and Me, the sell-out show celebrating the life of comic actor Rikki Fulton.

Mr Hannan was born in Glasgow and raised in the Vale of Leven, and had a second career as a care worker, having studied social work at the former Robert Gordon Institute of Technology in Aberdeen.

His family said they would treasure warm memories of a man who could light up a room with his wit and good humour.

His brother Martin, a journalist and former Evening News columnist, said: “We are all absolutely devastated at his passing, which was so sudden and came without any warning.

“The only comfort is that he was with Lesley, whom he adored, when he died. He was a fine and respected actor who loved to be on stage in particular, and he enlivened any gathering with his wit and comic abilities. We have lost our star, and life will be much duller from now on.

“Stevie made his Festival debut at the Theatre Workshop in the late 80s and was a regular at the Fringe over many years.

“He last appeared at the Traverse in Hector last November and, as ever, the audience there appreciated a good play and splendid acting.

“He lived in Glasgow for many years and in other places in Britain and Ireland but it was only on moving to Edinburgh more than five years ago that he felt at home.

“He and Lesley were so happy in their home in South Queensferry. The tragedy is that they won’t get more time together there.

“We don’t yet know when the funeral will take place but will let his many friends know when we do.”

Stevie Hannan is survived by partner Lesley, mother Catherine, brother Martin, sister Geraldine, their partners Deb and Bobby, and his niece and nephew Debbie and James.

[email protected]