Liz Dawn, the actress who played tart-tongued Vera Duckworth in the long-running British soap opera ``Coronation Street,'' has died.
She was 77.
Dawn's family says the actress died ``peacefully in her sleep'' last night.
``Coronation Street'' has charted the goings-on in the fictional northern England community of Weatherfield since 1960 with a blend of dramatic story-lines and down-to-earth humour.
Dawn appeared on the show from 1974 to 2008, as Vera, wife and verbal sparring partner to work-shy, pigeon-fancying Jack Duckworth.
Their rocky but enduring relationship was at the show's emotional heart.
Dawn's character was killed off in 2008.