Richard Stanley Thorp (born 2nd January 1932 in Purley, Surrey, died 22nd May 2013 in Shrewsbury, Shropshire) was an English actor who portrayed Alan Turner in Emmerdale from March 1982 to June 2013. He was the longest-serving member of Emmerdale since the death of Clive Hornby in 2008 up until his own death in 2013 until Chris Chittell who plays Eric Pollard surpassed him in 2017.
Thorp appeared in such great British films as The Dambusters (1955) and the 1957 film The Barrets of Wimpole Street. Previous television roles included Dr. John Rennie in Emergency Ward 10 (1957-1967), Doug Randall in Crossroads (1975) and Det. Sgt. Jacklin in Strangers (1982).
Thorp was one of Emmerdale's most private actors, even though he gave an interview in 1995 with The People telling that he was separated from his wife but still lived in the same house together. Thorp was very good friends with his former co-stars: Lorraine Chase who played his daughter Steph and Sheree Murphy who played his granddaughter Tricia. Thorp had a break from Emmerdale in July 2009 to have his right knee replaced. He returned in April 2010. Whilst happy to have stayed in his role for so long, he has complained that his character is not used as much anymore. In October 2010, Thorp revealed he was selling his large house in Mid Wales to move closer to the Emmerdale studios in Leeds.
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