The 76-year-old Dublin-born actor was identified with Alzheimer’s illness in 2019
Actor Bryan Murray in a scene from the BBC tv sitcom ‘Bread’(Image: Getty)
Brookside legend Bryan Murray has been moved into “full time care” following his Alzheimer’s diagnosis. The former actor performed the memorable position of Trevor Jordache in 1993. He was the husband of Mandy Jordache, the brother of Brenna Jordache, and the dad of Beth and Rachel Jordache.
Bryan’s spouse Una Crawford O’Brien spoke at the launch of Alzheimer’s Tea Day 2026 final month about her husband’s situation. She mentioned: “Over the past year, Bryan’s needs became far greater, and he has now moved into full time care. Up until now I didn’t have time to think. My day was completely focused on Bryan and his needs. Now I have time to miss him.
“Alzheimer’s Tea Day is on Thursday, May 7 and myself and Bryan would actually love you to affix us. You can participate in no matter approach you need. You can host an enormous Tea Party in your backyard or just put the kettle on and share a cuppa with pals. What issues most is that you’re there. Please enroll at the moment. It actually is so necessary.”
Una mentioned there may be no way that Bryan would have been able to cope without the help of family and pals and the extraordinary assist the household had obtained from The Alzheimer Society of Ireland.
In an interview with The Irish Times, Una revealed she has “misplaced” her friend and companion. She said: “Bryan is not joyful and he was once such a contented particular person. I believe it is as a result of he simply would not learn about something actually.”
The 76-year-old Dublin-born actor was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2019 but continued to appear on Irish soap Fair City. He retired in 2025 after 20 years of playing Bob Charles on the RTE soap.
He went public with his story in 2022 to raise awareness of the disease and to assist others. Speaking on RTE Radio 1’s Morning Ireland on the time, Fair City’s Executive Producer Brigie de Courcy mentioned: “We are all very unhappy about this. Bryan has been a completely great a part of the crew for the final 20 years, an integral a part of the story and an absolute consummate skilled.
“He is the very sort of person, when you have a young actor coming in you say to them, ‘go down and watch Bryan and watch what he does, how he occupies the space and how he occupies the screen’.”
Bryan met his on and off-screen associate, Una, on Fair City. Their characters had an affair on-screen and later married. Speaking to The Ray D’Arcy Show, Una mentioned: “I don’t mind looking after him – sometimes it can be frustrating, sometimes it can be annoying, sometimes it’s funny.
“I believe it’s the unhappiness if you realise that your life has modified due to being a carer. When we obtained collectively, he made me chuckle a lot, I fell off a chair! He introduced laughter again into my life.”
In Brookside, Bryan’s short but remembered role as villain Trevor changed soap history forever. Trevor was a violent and sexually abusive husband and dad. When his partner Mandy picked up a kitchen knife and murdered Trevor with it, it led to one of the most shocking soap storylines in TV history as Mandy and Beth then buried the body under the patio of the house.
Despite only appearing in 24 episodes of Brookside, his character was one of Brookside’s most famous. He also made appearances in Liverpool TV show Bread. Bryan played The Boswells’ cousin Shifty, a role for which he won a BBC TV Personality of the Year Award.
Speaking in regards to the present, the cleaning soap star mentioned: “When you meet Jean [Boht], the heat she offers you is the equal of your mom. You’re being welcomed dwelling. Jean was superb.”
