Liz, who was best known for playing Vera Duckworth for more than 30 years on ‘Corrie’, passed away on Monday evening after a long battle with the lung condition, emphysema.
The family of the actress, who left the ITV soap in 2008, announced the news in a statement on Tuesday morning.
It reads: “We are devastated and heartbroken at the passing of our much-loved wife, mother, sister, grandmother and great grandmother, the incredible Liz Dawn.
“Liz died peacefully last night at home with her loving family around her. “She has been the love, light and inspiration in our lives and we are bereft at her passing.“
The actress had a pacemaker fitted in 2013 after suffering a heart attack while on holiday in Spain.
Earlier this year she had surgery linked to her heart condition, but she fell ill again and was taken to hospital in Manchester, where her family kept a constant vigil by her bedside.
‘Coronation Street’ producers also paid tribute to the ‘Coronation Street’ “legend” in a statement.
The full statement reads: “It is with the greatest sadness that we have learned our beloved Liz Dawn has passed away last night.
“Her family at Coronation Street are heartbroken.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences and sympathy at this very sad time to Liz’s devoted husband Don, her loving children Graham, Dawn, Ann and Julie, their families and her six grandchildren and three great grandchildren. “We have been blessed to have Liz in our lives, as she was such a kind, considerate and caring friend and colleague.
“As Coronation Street’s Vera Duckworth for 34 years, Liz brought so much joy and happiness to so many. She was a wonderful actress who will forever be a true Coronation Street legend.”
Coronation Street’s Executive Producer, Kieran Roberts also paid tribute, saying: “Liz Dawn was a true Coronation Street legend, a brilliant actor and a wonderful person. Everyone lucky enough to have worked with Liz during her thirty-four years playing Corrie icon Vera Duckworth will remember her with huge affection.”
Liz first appeared on the cobbles in 1974, and quickly became a firm favourite with viewers, thanks to her stormy relationship with her on-screen husband Jack, played by Bill Tarmey.
She left the soap in 2008 after Vera was killed off in scenes that were watched by more than 12 million viewers.
Two years later, she made one last appearance, when her ghost visited Jack before he passed away.
Liz Dawn 1939-2017
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Liz Dawn (credit:Rex/Shutterstock)
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Coronation Street star Liz Dawn at Buckingham Palace after she received an MBE from Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. Dawn, who plays the Street's Vera Duckworth, received the honour for her charity work at hospitals in Manchester and Leeds. * A staunch royalist, she previously met the Queen when the monarch visited the Coronation Street set in 1982 and posed for a picture with the cast outside the Rovers Return. (credit:PA Archive/PA Images)
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British Actress Liz Dawn Star of the Granada TV soap 'Coronation Street'Seen at the launch of the British Digestive Foundation publication 'Calling Time on Peptic Ulcers'. (Photoshot/Getty Images) (credit:Photoshot via Getty Images)
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Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair meets Coronation Street actress Liz Dawn, after addressing Labour party members at the Lowry theatre, Salford Keys, Manchester, in advance of the fourth coming European elections. (credit:PA Archive/PA Images)
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Liz Dawn (credit:Rex/Shutterstock)
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Soap star, Liz Dawn (left), alias Vera Duckworth in Coronation Street and Birmingham City FC Managing Director, Karren Brady launch The Campaign Against Peptic Ulcers at the Wellington Pub in central London today (Wednesday). Both celebrities have suffered, but fully recoverd from the condition. More commonly known as stomach ulcers, it is a common complaint affecting one in ten people at some point in their life. Photo by Sean Dempsey/PA. (credit:PA Archive/PA Images)
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Coronation Street stars Bill Tarmey and Liz Dawn (Jack and Vera Duckworth) try to get some tips on how to win from a hotel employee in Las Vegas, the pair were on location shooting a special edition of the hit soap for video. (credit:PA Archive/PA Images)
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Bill Tarmey and Liz Dawn as Jack and Vera 31/05/1988 in TV series Coronation Street . (Photo by Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Getty Images) (credit:Mirrorpix via Getty Images)
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Superstar actress Joan Collins (right) teams up with Coronation Street's Jack (Bill Tarmey) and Vera Duckworth (Liz Dawn) in the soap's Christmas video. Joan, 64, makes a cameo appearance when Jack and Vera fly home from Las Vegas to London's Heathrow Airport. See PA story SHOWBIZ Collins. (C) Granada TV Bill Tarmey as Jack Duckworth and Liz Dawn as Vera Duckworth with Joan Collins. (credit:PA Archive/PA Images)
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BLACKPOOL, ENGLAND - MARCH 26: Actress Liz Dawn attends a photo call for new waxworks of Coronation Street's Jack and Vera Duckworth unveiled at Madame Tussauds, Blackpool on March 26, 2014 in Blackpool, England. (Photo by Shirlaine Forrest/Getty Images) (credit:Shirlaine Forrest via Getty Images)
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File photo dated 03/05/08 of Coronation street actress Liz Dawn with the Lifetime Achievements award at the British Soap Awards 2008. Liz Dawn, who played Vera Duckworth in the soap, has died, her family has said. (credit:PA Wire/PA Images)
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Liz Dawn (credit:Rex/Shutterstock)
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The cast of Coronation Street celebrate the Silver Jubilee on the Manchester set of the Granada TV programme. Episode One went out on December 9 1960. (credit:PA Archive/PA Images)
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Two years later, Bill Tarmey died of a heart attack at the age of 71, at his holiday home in Tenerife.
Kym Marsh, who plays Michelle Connor, was one of the first ‘Corrie’ stars to play tribute on Twitter.
She tweeted: “Just heard the terrible news of our lovely Liz Dawns passing. I’m so sad. What a wonderful lady. She will be so missed. Love to her family x.”
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