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Mike's last UK TV appearance was in ITV1's The Bill
Mike's last UK TV appearance was in ITV1's The Bill

EastEnders legend Mike Reid dies

Monday 30th July

Former EastEnders star Mike Reid, who was much loved as Frank Butcher, has died in Spain aged 67.

His agent David Hahn told the BBC that he died of a heart attack.

Mike was a stand-up comedian in clubs and cruise ships, before he moved onto TV shows such as Steptoe and Son, Doctor Who and Minder.

Hahn told the BBC that Mike had been feeling very well in the past few weeks.

"Mike was in fine fettle form. In fact only a couple of weeks ago we were having dinner over here," he said.

"Mike that particular day went to see his consultant and had a full medical - and they gave him a clean bill of health."

Mike played Frank Butcher between 1987 and 2005. His eventful character married and divorced Pat Evans, suffered a nervous breakdown, then married Peggy Mitchell before an affair with Pat destroyed that marriage.

Mike's latest British TV appearance was a guest role in The Bill earlier this year.

CLICK here to read a profile of Mike Reid.

Watch a classic clip of Frank Butcher in the 1980s.

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