Jimmy McKenna
Scottish actor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
James Stephen McKenna is a Scottish actor. He is known for his roles as Jack Osborne in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks and Don Brady in A Touch of Frost.[1]
Born
Glasgow, Scotland
OccupationActor
Yearsactive1984–present
TelevisionWaterfront Beat
Hollyoaks
A Touch of Frost
Hollyoaks
A Touch of Frost
Jimmy McKenna | |
|---|---|
McKenna in 2009 | |
| Born | Glasgow, Scotland |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Television | Waterfront Beat Hollyoaks A Touch of Frost |
| Spouse | Beverly McKenna (died 2025) |
| Children | 4 |
Career
McKenna's first job was as a professional footballer.[2] His football career with Sheffield Wednesday F.C. ended after a back injury.[3]
McKenna has played Jack Osborne in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks since 1996 and is the second longest-serving character in the serial.
Personal life
McKenna lives in Sheffield, England.[4] His wife Beverly died in 2025.[5][6] McKenna has 7 SCE Ordinary Grades.[2] McKenna is a fan of Frank Sinatra as well as Sammy Cahn and Dean Martin.[2]
Filmography
| Title | Year | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coronation Street | 1985 | Jim Lomax | 1 episode |
| Affairs of the Heart | Policeman | Episode 6 | |
| Highlander | 1986 | Father Rainey | |
| Taggart | Stephen Hendry | Episode: "Death Call" | |
| Scene | Teacher | Episode: "Two of Us" | |
| Waterfront Beat | 1990–1991 | Gerry Cookson | 5 episodes |
| Perfect Scoundrels | 1991 | Frazer Hurley | Episode: "Ssh, You Know Who" |
| Rumpole of the Bailey | 1992 | D.S. Appleby | Episode: "Rumpole and the Reform of Joby Jonson" |
| "Soldier, soldier" | 1993 | Season 3 episode 3 | |
| September Song | Doctor | Episode 6 | |
| Heartbeat | S.I.B. Majore | Episode: "Over the Hill" | |
| Between the Lines | George McKenzie | Episode: "Crack Up" | |
| All in the Game | Ray Peters | TV mini-series | |
| Coronation Street | 1994 | Immigration Officer | 2 episodes |
| Pie in the Sky | 1995 | Micheal Meredith | Episode: "Hard Cheese" |
| A Touch of Frost | 1996–2010 | Sgt. Don Brady | Supporting character; 25 episodes |
| When Saturday Comes | 1996 | George McCabe | |
| Hollyoaks | 1996–present | Jack Osborne | Series regular |
| Taggart | 1997 | Joss Metcalfe | Episode: "Babushka" |
| Hollyoaks: Movin' On | 2001 | Jack Osborne | Spin-off series |
| Hollyoaks Later | 2020 | 2020 special |