Welsh Soap Actor Dies

Geraint Owen, who played Pc Rod Phillips in Welsh-language soap Pobol y Cwm, has died suddenly, aged 43. He appeared in the soap from 1991 to 1996.

 

Mr Owen, the brother of BBC and S4C presenter Rhodri Owen, became ill at his partner's house in Swansea. He was taken to Morriston Hospital but later died.

The actor, originally from Swansea, auditioned for the role of James Bond. However, he eventually lost out to current 007 Daniel Craig. He was also a former Plaid Cymru councillor for Neath Port Talbot and had stood in assembly and parliamentary elections.

 

Geraint Owen also appeared in the 1980s S4C series Dinas and had a small part in The Miracle Maker, the 2000 animated film about Jesus Christ starring Ralph Fiennes.

In his political career, Mr Owen stood against Welsh Secretary Peter Hain for the Neath seat in the 2005 general election. He represented the Bryncoch South ward for Neath Port Talbot (NPT) council for four years before stepping down last year because of ill-health.

Pobol y Cwm senior producer Ynyr Williams said everyone associated with the soap was "very sad" to hear of Mr Owen's death.