Richard Thorp dead at 81

Veteran British actor Richard Thorp has died at the age of 81. The star, who appeared in classic World War II movie The Dam Busters and hit U.K. TV series Emmerdale, passed away on Wednesday (22May13) in Leeds, England.
He began his acting career in 1949 and got his big break as Squadron Leader Henry Maudslay in 1955’s The Dam Busters before going on to enjoy a long-running TV career, starring in British shows including All Aboard, Emergency Ward 10, Crossroads, To The Manor Born, and Strangers.
But he was best known in the U.K. for his role as Alan Turner in Emmerdale, a part he played from 1982 until his death.
Emmerdale producer Kate Oates says, “Richard’s death is a sad loss to Emmerdale, of which he was at the heart for so many wonderful years. Richard had a brilliant sense of humour and he will be missed by every single member of our production whose lives he touched.”