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| Ex-TV soap actor's sudden death | Ex-TV soap actor's sudden death |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A former cast member of the Welsh-language drama series Pobol y Cwm has died suddenly at the weekend. | A former cast member of the Welsh-language drama series Pobol y Cwm has died suddenly at the weekend. |
| Geraint Owen, who was 43 and played Pc Rod Phillips in the programme until last year, died on Saturday morning. | Geraint Owen, who was 43 and played Pc Rod Phillips in the programme until last year, died on Saturday morning. |
| Mr Owen, the brother of BBC and S4C presenter Rhodri Owen, was taken ill at his partner's house in Swansea and taken to Morriston Hospital. | Mr Owen, the brother of BBC and S4C presenter Rhodri Owen, was taken ill at his partner's house in Swansea and taken to Morriston Hospital. |
| Mr Owen was a former councillor for Neath Port Talbot and had stood in assembly and parliamentary elections. | Mr Owen was a former councillor for Neath Port Talbot and had stood in assembly and parliamentary elections. |
| The actor, originally from Gowerton, Swansea, auditioned for the role of James Bond a few years ago, eventually losing out to the current 007, Daniel Craig. | |
| He also appeared in the 1980s S4C series Dinas and in the 2000 animated film about Jesus Christ, The Miracle Maker, starring Ralph Fiennes. | |
| In his political career, Mr Owen stood against Welsh Secretary Peter Hain for Plaid Cymru for the Neath seat in the 2005 general election. | |
| He represented the Bryncoch South ward for Neath Port Talbot (NPT) council for four years before stepping down last year because of ill-health. | |
| 'Sincere character' | |
| Dr Del Morgan, Plaid Cymru's NPT group leader, spoke of tremendous shock at hearing of Mr Owen's death. | |
| "It's such a loss," he told BBC Wales' news website. | |
| He said he had worked closely with Mr Owen in his bid to defeat Mr Hain at the last election. | |
| "He had tremendous energy and enthusiasm in that campaign. I was hopeful that at some point in the future we would have had him back. | |
| "He was always a very warm and sincere character and always pleasant. | |
| "He did provide a great boost for Plaid in the Neath area in his being involved with us. He will be sadly missed." | |
| Ali Thomas, leader of NPT council said: "The council is deeply saddened to hear of the untimely death of former councillor Geraint Owen. | |
| "We send our sincere condolences to his family at this difficult time." |