Who is Kenneth Cope’s wife Renny Lister and how many children did the actress share with the Coronation street actor?
RENNY Lister married Corrie legend Kenneth Cope after meeting him on the show’s set.
Kenneth sadly “passed away peacefully in his sleep” aged 93 in September 2024.
Who is Kenneth Cope’s widow, Renny Lister?
Renny Lister was born Renee Solomon in Manchester on May 24, 1934.
She’s a retired TV and film star from the UK, best known for appearing in Coronation Street and her on-and-off-screen romance with Kenneth Cope.
Renny began her acting career in the late 1950s and remained active in the industry until her retirement in 1997.
She’s been married twice — her first marriage was to Eric Lister in 1953, which ended in divorce.
But she retained her original husband’s surname to use as her stage name.
In 1961, she married Kenneth, and they went on to have three children together.
The two met while filming on the set of Corrie in 1961, when Kenneth was cast as the cheeky street trader Jed Stone while Renny played the role of Jean Stark.
Despite beginning in the fictitious world of Weatherfield, their relationship proved to be the real thing, lasting over 63 years.
Which films did Renny Lister star in?
Throughout her career, Renny appeared in numerous films and TV series.
Notable movies she had roles in include Hammer horror The Curse Of The Werewolf (1961), British comedy “A Touch Of The Other” (1970) and Personal Services (1987) — one of her last film appearances before retiring.
She also played characters in a host of TV shows aside from Coronation Street, such as Jenny Lawrence in Don’t Forget to Write! (1977-1979), Doreen Bowler in Bowler (1973), as well as appearing in popular shows such as Z Cars (1962-1972) and Crown Court (1974).
When did her husband, Kenneth Cope die?
Kenneth Cope died on September 11, 2024.
A statement from Kenneth’s family read: “It is with great sadness the family wish to announce the passing of Kenneth Cope 14/04/1931 – 11/09/2024.
“Ken passed away yesterday peacefully in his sleep with his wife and family by his side.
“An incredible icon of British TV and film known famously for his role as Marty Hopkirk in Randall and Hopkirk, Jed Stone in Coronation Street as well as part of the Carry On team.
“His career spans six decades and contributed to some of the most iconic moments in British culture. Ken was a proud native Liverpudlian and a loyal supporter of Everton Football Club.
“He began his career in theatre quickly picking up many film and TV roles. He was a natural comedy actor and was a main contributor to the comedy series That Was The Week That Was and swiftly became a regular figure across the acting industry.
“We are deeply saddened by his passing and ask that his family are given privacy at this time. He is survived by his loving wife Renny Lister and his children Nick, Mark and Martha.”
Kenneth’s agent Sandra Chalmers posted on X: “Announcing the passing of a true icon #KennethCope.
“An absolute joy to work with and an honour to have known. A true gentleman in show business RIP.”
How many children did Kenneth Cope and Renny Lister have?
Kenneth and Renny had two sons named Nick and Mark, who formed a rock band called The Candyskins together.
They also had a daughter, Martha, who is an actress best known for her roles in Doctors and EastEnders.
In December 2015 and January 2016, she also appeared on Coronation Street as Joanne — making the show a real family affair.