Former Coronation Street actor Neville Buswell has died at the age of 76. 

The star – best known as the Street’s Ray Langton – died on Christmas Day.

News of his death came to light on Monday with the publication of an obituary by undertakers in his adopted home of Las Vegas. 

Palm Eastern Mortuary also said Neville’s funeral took place on 3 January, but did not reveal any further details about his death.

Neville first joined the cast of Coronation Street in 1966 as womaniser Ray, but left the show later that year. 

He returned in 1968, remaining on the cobbles for 10 years. 

During that time, Ray was at the centre of a number of memorable storylines, including his wedding to Deirdre Barlow, played by the late Anne Kirkbride, in 1975. The characters went on to have a daughter, Tracy, together. 

Ray exited Coronation Street in 1978 when Deirdre found out about his affair with waitress Janice Stubbs, and while they had planned to move to the Netherlands as a family to overcome his infidelity, he eventually left alone. 

Neville briefly returned to the role in 2005 in the lead up to Deirdre’s second wedding to Ken Barlow to try and make amends with Tracy. He died at the wedding reception after revealing he had terminal stomach cancer. 

Paying tribute to the former star, a Coronation Street spokesperson said: “We are saddened to hear of the death of Neville Buswell. His portrayal of Deirdre’s first husband Ray Langton in the 1970s made him a part of Coronation Street history.

“We were delighted when he returned to the role in 1997 for a special DVD set in Vegas and again back in 2005 when Ray turned up on the cobbles to visit Deirdre and his daughter Tracy.

“We would like to extend our sympathies to his family and friends at this sad time.”

In real life, Neville moved to the US after his exit from the soap in 1978, working as a croupier, casino manager and mortgage broker in Las Vegas. He continued to live in the city after retiring in 2008.