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Michael Reid (19 January 1940 – 29 July 2007) was an English comedian and character actor, from Hackney in east London, who is best remembered for playing the role of Frank Butcher in EastEnders and hosting the popular children's TV show Runaround. He was noted for his gravelly voice and strong Cockney accent.

Michael Reid

19 January 1940

Capricorn

Hackney, East London

British

Comedian, actor, singer, author, broadcaster

EastEnders

Average

Brown - Light

White

29 July 2007

Marbella, Spain

heart attack

Michael Reid (19 January 1940-29 July 2007) was an English comedian and character actor, from Hackney in East London, who is best remembered for playing the role of Frank Butcher in EastEnders and hosting the popular children's TV show Runaround. He was noted for his gravelly voice and strong Cockney accent. Michael Reid was born in Hackney, East London in 1940 during World War II, and the Blitz bombings of Central London caused him and his family to relocate to Tottenham, North London, where he attended Rowland Hill School. In 1958, he married his first wife, Sheila, the had a daughter, Jane Hall. They divorced in 1967, after which he married his long-term live-in partner Shirley (née Collins) in 1971; they had two sons, Michael (born 1962) and Mark Edward (born 1965-1990). Shirley already had a son James (known as Jimmy) and a daughter, Angela (who in 2008 the press claimed to be a British National Party activist). In December 1985, his son Mark, a schizophrenic, accidentally shoot dead his 17 year old friend, for which he was sent to prison. Mark fathered twins, a son and a daughter, and committed suicide aged 24 in Colchester, Essex, by setting himself on fire. Shortly after his son's death, Reid's granddaughter Kirsty Anne S. (1990-1990) - Mark's daughter - died in her cot in Colchester, aged six months. Reid moved to a villa in Marbella, Spain so he could live close to a golf course which would enable him to pursue his passion of playing golf three to four times each week. Reid was known to be opposed to plans to introduce blasphemy laws, for the effect this would have on satire, comedy and free speech. Reid was good friends with fellow actor and stand up comedian Freddie Starr; together they introduced their sometime-bodyguard, the bareknuckle fighter Lenny McLean, to acting. McLean went on to star in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. Reid's granddaughter, Claire Louise Reid, is an actress and TV presenter. Reid died in Marbella, Spain on 29 July 2007, aged 67 from a suspected heart attack. Two weeks before he died, he had received a full medical examination and had been given a clean bill of health. The 30 July 2007 EastEnders episode featured a dedication to him following the end credits. Mike's funeral was held on Tuesday 14 August 2007 at Little Easton Parish Church, Essex, and was attended by over 250 people including his former EastEnders co-stars Pam St. Clement, Sid Owen, Michael Greco, Bobby Davro, June Brown, Barbara Windsor and other members of the EastEnders cast. He was cremated the following day at Chelmsford Crematorium, Essex. Reid's family decided to allow fans to attend his funeral, and his widow Shirley also invited them to speak. Reid's former co-star in EastEnders were all given the day off work to attend his funeral. In November 2007, just over three months after Reid's death, the BBC announced that his EastEnders character Frank Butcher would be killed off in April 2008. The week had been dubbed "Frank Week". In the EastEnders episode on 1 April 2008, Frank's funeral was held. Frank's children, Ricky, Diane and Janine also made a comeback. In the episode which Frank's funeral took place, Reid appeared in previous scenes which had aired years ealier, in flashbacks in Pat Butcher's head. He was also heard saying "Take care of yourself, babe", to Pat in the very end of the episode. Ironically the flashback of the words Frank had spoken were taken from the end of the last-ever scene Mike performed in, in EastEnders, which originally broadcast in December 2005.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Reid_(entertainer)

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