John Thaw as Inspector Morse

John Thaw CBE. English actor. Born: 03 January 1942 Died: 21 February 2002.

John Thaw came from a working class background, having been born in Longsight, (a few minutes drive from where I was born and live) a district in the City of Manchester, UK, to parents John and Dorothy. He had a younger brother called Ray.

John grew up in the Burnage area south of the city and attended Ducie Technical High School for Boys in Manchester. He entered the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art at the age of 17.

John Thaw made his television debut in a military police drama called "Redcap" (1964 - 1966), then appeared in a range of television, stage and cinema roles; his most popular being "Inspector Morse".

In 1964, John Thaw married Sally Alexander, but the couple divorced four years later. He then married actress, Sheila Hancock, in 1973 and remained with her until his death in 2002.

John was diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus in June 2001 and underwent chemotherapy but died eight months later, on Thursday, 21 February 2002, seven weeks after his 60th birthday.