Former Hollyoaks actor Callum Kerr is mourning the tragic death of his mother, Dawn Searle, and her husband, Andrew Searle, who were found dead at their holiday home in southwest France. The couple, aged 56 and 62, were discovered by a neighbour on Thursday, February 7, with French officials stating the deaths were 'clearly a homicide'. Dawn was found with a head injury near the front door, surrounded by scattered jewellery, while reports suggest Andrew may have been tortured.
Just 18 months before the tragedy, Callum walked his mother down the aisle at her wedding to Andrew in September 2023. The 30-year-old actor shared a photo on Instagram, writing: 'Not many people can say they walked their own mother down the aisle. What a pleasure!!! I love you mum.' The post, which originally received congratulations, is now filled with messages of condolence.
Investigators believe the couple may have been targeted by French 'gangsters', as Andrew was a former organised crime investigator. No weapons were found at the scene, and autopsies are scheduled for Monday. Regional prosecutor Nicolas Rigot-Muller said: 'Both died a violent death - all leads are being examined.'
Callum Kerr, born in Musselburgh near Edinburgh, rose to fame as PC George Kiss in Hollyoaks (2020-2021) and later starred in Netflix's Virgin River and Fox's Monarch. He is also a country singer based in Nashville, Tennessee, and recently became a father to a baby girl with his fiancée, Lauren Stacy, whom he proposed to in September 2024.
The actor has not publicly commented on the deaths, but posted a video of his latest song 'Cold Beer Cold' four days before the news broke. His last social media post was on Thursday, the day his mother was found.
