Tributes have been paid to Crossroads actor Tony Adams who has died in hospital in Brighton at the age of 84.
Anthony Sawley Adams was born in Anglesey, Wales, in 1940 and trained as an actor at the Italia Conti theatre school.
After performances on the stage, he made his name as Dr Neville Bywaters in the 1970s soap General Hospital and appeared in the Dr Who series The Green Death.
In 1978, he took on the role of accountant Adam Chance in soap Crossroads – the part for which he became best known.
The series ended in 1988 after more than 4,500 episodes, with Adams staying until the end.
He was one of the cast members from the original run, including Jane Rossington and Kathy Staff, who returned when the soap was revived in 2001.
Adams then appeared in the stage version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium, where he played Grandpa Potts, in 2004.
In 2023, he had a cameo role in Nolly – a three-part drama created by Russell T Davies which tells the story of Crossroads actress Noele Gordon.
Actor Augustus Prew, who played Adams in the drama, described him as a “magical man” during interviews at the time.
Adams died at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, in Brighton, on Saturday (25 October), with his wife Christine by his side.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang producer Michael Rose, of the Michael Rose Organisation, paid tribute to Adams as an “absolute joy” and a talented actor, dancer and singer.
“He was one of the warmest gentlemen you could wish to work with. He was an absolute joy. He was a dancer originally but there was nothing Tony couldn’t do.
“He was a very accomplished actor. He was a really good dancer and singer. He played Grandpa Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and was a joy to have in the company, as he was in every company.
“We shall miss him.”
On a Saltdean Facebook page, one of Mr Adams’s neighbours, Murray Hecht, said: “I was sorry to hear that local actor Tony Adams, of Crossroads fame, has died.
“He was always very friendly and had lots of anecdotes about all the famous people that he had worked with.
“In fact, when he invited a group of us round to his place, his walls were full of photos of him with various stars, such as Joan Collins, Ginger Rogers, Noel Coward and, of course, Noele Gordon.
“His last TV appearance was playing himself in the Nolly Drama a couple of years ago. RIP to a lovely man.”
Saltdean Facebook Page
He lived in the Flats overlooking Brighton Marina-I’d say East Brighton.
But a Great Character in Crossroads-Soap & Drama World will miss him terribly.
He lived in Lenham Avenue, Saltdean in the 1990s before moving later to Rottingdean village. Was a near neighbour of mine.
Helped raise a lot of money back in the day for the evening Argus Christmas appeal.RIP 🙏