Actor Bill Maynard, who had a career spanning eight decades and played the role of Heartbeat, passed away at the age of 89.
Maynard was born in Heath End, Farnham, Surrey. His father, Walter, worked as a gardener, and his mother, Edith, worked as a laundry worker. After moving to Leicestershire with his family, Maynard enrolled in the Kibworth Beauchamp grammar school.
At the age of 11, Bill was already earning more money than his father through his stand-up comedy performances in clubs.
In a similar vein, the actor starred in the Carry On movies Carry On at Your Convenience and Carry On Matron in addition to playing the title role in the ITV comedy Oh No, It’s Selwyn Froggatt. After playing Sgt. Beetroot in the 1980s television comedy Worzel Gummidge, he went on to appear in the spinoffs of Heartbeat, The Royal and The Moorside, which were both released more recently.
Maynard’s most recent role was in the drama The Moorside, which aired in 2017, and was centred on the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Shannon Matthews.
What Happened To Claude Greengrass In Heartbeat?
The character of Claude Greengrass has not been affected in any way by the events of the show Heartbeat. Unfortunately, the actor who played the role passed away in 2018 as a result of injuries sustained in an accident involving a mobility scooter.
ITV Studios in the United Kingdom was responsible for producing the historical drama series Heartbeat from 1992 until 2010. The novels in Nicholas Rhea’s “Constable” series served as the inspiration for this show. Early episodes of the series consistently drew an audience of more than 10 million viewers, with the series eventually reaching its highest-ever audience of 13.82 million in 2001 and 12.8 million in 2003. The series was a hit from the very beginning.
From the first to the tenth season, Bill played the role of the witty Claude Greengrass. On the show, he was constantly getting in trouble for stealing animals from other farms, which was one of the reasons why he was there. The actor experienced health problems and had to leave the series, but he is now back on The Royal. In a similar manner, he appeared on the ITV show Heartbeat for eight years, playing the role of the lovable rogue Claude Jeremiah Greengrass.
Actor Bill Maynard Passed Away at the Age of 89: What Kind of Illness Was He Suffering From?
Maynard was said to have passed away in a hospital in Leicestershire not long after breaking his hip as a result of falling off of his mobility scooter, as stated by his daughter-in-law. She also mentioned that he was larger than life and had a passion for the entertainment industry.
Following his passing, he has received tributes from a variety of people, including athletes, fans, and other performers. Snooker player and commentator Willie Thorne, who hails from Leicestershire, posted the following on Twitter: “The passing of Bill Maynard has made today a very sad day. He was a wonderful actor and a good friend, and he was also a snooker fanatic who lived nearby in Leicester. RIP.”
Tricia Penrose, who played Gina on the soap opera Heartbeat and competed against Bill on the game show Pointless, also paid tribute to Bill. Penrose and Bill worked together on the show. She mentioned in her post that it had been only a few weeks since they had worked together.
In addition to that, another actor named Richard Willis told the tale of how he first got to know Bill. On various social media platforms, he wrote: “My father owns a theatre on the island of Guernsey, and he invited Bill Maynard to perform his stunning one-person show about Charles Dickens there. I was 10 years old when I remember him trying to dissuade me from pursuing a career in the entertainment industry. I have never stopped being appreciative for the opportunity I was given.”
Who Replaced Claude Greengrass’s Character?
Vernon Scripps, a Liverpool actor who took over for Greengrass in his role as the lovable rogue of the village, was portrayed by Geoffrey Hughes. In the 1970s and 1980s, he was best recognised for his roles as Twiggy in The Royle Family, Onslow in Keeping Up Appearances, and Eddie Yeats, the binman on Coronation Street. His fans numbered in the millions. In 2012, at the age of 68, he lost his battle with prostate cancer.
The most recent appearance of Claude Jeremiah Greengrass was in the episode of Heatbeat titled “Cold Turkey.” Bill Maynard had to cut short his appearance at the performance because he was ill. However, he did make an appearance in the Heartbeat spinoff series titled “The Royal.” Greengrass (Bill Maynard), the main character of this episode, is having trouble getting paid for the gardening work that he has been doing for Stringer.
