Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Sad news has swept across the British entertainment world with the passing of William Rush, a talented actor best known for his role in the BBC One drama series, "Waterloo Road."
Rush passed away at the age of 31 on Wednesday, December 17, 2025.
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The announcement of William Rush's passing was made directly by his mother, actress Debbie Rush, best known for her role as Anna Windass on "Coronation Street."
Debbie shared the heartbreaking news via her personal Instagram account on Thursday morning, December 18, 2025, one day after her son's passing.
While the exact cause of William Rush's death has not been publicly disclosed, the family has requested privacy during their time of mourning.
However, in her statement, Debbie Rush revealed that her son was an organ donor, who had given "hope and life to other families" during their darkest moments.
The Tragic Death of Waterloo Road Star
William Edward Rush, an actor born on July 6, 1994, passed away on December 17, 2025.
The sad news was first confirmed by his mother, Debbie Rush, who posted a touching tribute on social media.
“As a family, our hearts are completely broken, and there are no words that can truly capture the depth of our loss,” she wrote.
In her post, Debbie Rush called William "our beautiful baby boy" and stated that the family's hearts were "absolutely broken," with no words to express the depth of their loss.
She also highlighted William's generosity as an organ donor, who had given the most precious gift.
“Even in our darkest moment, 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.”
Brief Profile of William Rush
William Edward Rush was born on July 6, 1994, in Bury, Greater Manchester, England.
He is the son of Andrew Rush and actress Debbie Rush.
William also has an older sister, Poppy Rush, who is also an actress, and a brother, Tom Rush.
William attended Bamford Academy and later continued his acting training at the Manchester School of Acting.
As an actor, William Rush began his career as a child, showcasing his talent in various television productions before landing the role that catapulted him to fame.
Acting and Music Career
William Rush is best known for his role as Josh Stevenson in the BBC One school drama series, "Waterloo Road."
He appeared in 69 episodes from 2009 to 2013, where his character was involved in various complex storylines, including coming to terms with his sexuality, drug addiction issues, and mental health issues.
In addition to "Waterloo Road," William has also had several other roles in popular television series, including:
- "Grange Hill" (as Ali Duncan, 2005-2007)
- "Shameless" (as Lad at Ice Cream Truck, 2007)
- "The Street" (as Jack Taylor, 2007)
- "Drop Dead Gorgeous" (as Lad 1, 2007)
- "Casualty" (as Stef Kelly, 2013)
- "Coronation Street" (as Ian, 2014)
- "Vera" (as Ryan Darrow, 2014)
His last screen role was in the Australian miniseries "Friday On My Mind" in 2017, where he played musician George Young.
William Rush is not only an actor, but also a musical talent.
In 2016, he auditioned for the 13th series of "The X Factor" and made it to the "six-chair challenge."