Alan Cullen (born "Thomas Alan Cullen" on 7th October 1916 in Atherton, Lancashire; died 30th December 2000 in Northampton) appeared in two roles in Coronation Street: firstly in September 1966 as the presiding officer at the Weatherfield County Borough Council elections; and he returned to the programme in July 1969 as Councillor Farnsworth of the same council.
Educated at Thornleigh Salesian College, he went on to study art before joining the army in 1940, where he reached the rank of major. At the end of World War II, as an art tutor in Preston, he became a member of Bolton Little Theatre and aside from taking roles in several of their productions, used his expertise to design costumes and scenery. Mr Cullen turned professional in 1964, by which time, he had also written plays for children and became resident playwright at Sheffield Repertory Theatre.
His on-screen credits include roles in Public Eye, Callan, Z Cars, The Doctors, Jack the Ripper, Ladykillers and Juliet Bravo, along with the 1973 film O Lucky Man! and the 1978 award-winning blockbuster Superman.
Other stage work included The Stirrings in Sheffield on Saturday Night (also penned by Alan), A Cup of Kindness, The Tempest, Bent, Dinner with the Family, The Lady's Not for Burning and An Italian Straw Hat.