William Rush BBC One Share on Facebook Share on X Google Preferred Share to Flipboard Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Send an Email Print the Article Post a Comment William Rush, known for his role in the British soap Waterloo Road, has died. He was 31. The Brit's mother, former Coronation Star Debbie Rush, took to Instagram this week and wrote to users: "Our beautiful baby boy, William, passed away on 17th December. As a family, our hearts are completely broken, and there are no words that can truly capture the depth of our loss." "Even in our darkest moment," she continued, "William gave the most precious gift of all. Through being an organ donor, he has given hope and life to other families, thinking of others right to the very end. His kindness and love will forever be part of his legacy." Related Stories Business Japan's Toho Moves to Capitalize on Europe's Anime Boom Business Colombia Boosts 2026 Tax Credit Allocation for Foreign Productions to Record $90 Million "We kindly ask that our privacy be respected as we navigate this unimaginable grief. William will always be loved, always missed, and forever in our hearts." She added the hashtag #bekind. No cause of death has been announced. View this post on Instagram Denise Welch, a co-star of Rush's on Waterloo Road and mother of The 1975's Matty Healy, was among mourners leaving comments on the post. "He was a joy," she wrote. "I'm so sorry Debbie." Britain's Got Talent winner George Sampson said: "I'm so sorry to see this, thoughts are with you all, rest in paradise Will." The White Lotus star Aimee Lou Wood also wrote to Rush's mother, with whom she worked on Daddy Issues. "Debbie, I am so so sorry," Wood said with three heart emojis. "Sending you all my love." Rush will be most recognizable to audiences as Josh Stevenson in the BBC's Waterloo Road, appearing in over 150 episodes from 2009 and 2013. The show was a hit in its native U.K. and followed the lives of students and staff at a school in Rochdale, England. As a child, he starred in Grange Hill and Shameless, and also had roles in Casualty and Vera. In 2016, he auditioned for The X Factor and in 2017 had a role in Friday On My Mind. THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day Subscribe Sign Up Jimmy Kimmel Live Jimmy Kimmel Tearfully Thanks Viewers After "A Hard Year": "You Literally Pulled Us Out of a Hole" Heat Vision 'Last Samurai Standing' Renewed for Season 2 at Netflix Live Feed Rachel Zoe Is Back on Bravo: "I Am Unapologetically Myself" MS NOW MS NOW Turns to Jed Bartlet, er, Martin Sheen, for Its Latest TV Campaign (Exclusive) SNL When and Where to Stream 'A Saturday Night Live Christmas' Special Online ABC News How to Run a TV Newsroom in the Time of Trump - and When Viewers Are Tuning Out the News Jimmy Kimmel Live Jimmy Kimmel Tearfully Thanks Viewers After "A Hard Year": "You Literally Pulled Us Out of a Hole" Heat Vision 'Last Samurai Standing' Renewed for Season 2 at Netflix Live Feed Rachel Zoe Is Back on Bravo: "I Am Unapologetically Myself" MS NOW MS NOW Turns to Jed Bartlet, er, Martin Sheen, for Its Latest TV Campaign (Exclusive) SNL When and Where to Stream 'A Saturday Night Live Christmas' Special Online ABC News How to Run a TV Newsroom in the Time of Trump - and When Viewers Are Tuning Out the News