EastEnders star Rudolph Walker ‘had absolutely nothing’ at height of fame

EastEnders prima Rudolph Walker has revealed helium “had perfectly nothing” portion astatine the tallness of his fame.

The actor, 84, who is champion known for playing Patrick Trueman connected the British soap, said helium “didn’t person immoderate fiscal means” portion helium was successful his 70s and “nowhere to live”.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, helium said: “It was painful. It was highly difficult.

“I conscionable didn’t person immoderate fiscal means. I was virtually starting from scratch again successful my 70s, with obscurity to live.

“It was a clip of large symptom and loneliness.”

The insubstantial reports that Walker’s wealth problems started successful the mid-2010s pursuing his divorcement from his 2nd wife.

Walker said: “Some days connected my mode to the studio, I would propulsion up astatine the broadside of the road, person a cry.

“I’d propulsion myself together, get astatine the workplace and the situation would enactment arsenic a tonic, and I was acceptable to go. I accidental it was a benignant of treble life.”

Speaking astir Diane Parish, who plays Denise Fox connected the programme, helium said: “Diane knew determination was thing going on, but I ne'er revealed the extent of what was happening.”

I came from a inheritance wherever I had precise little, truthful erstwhile I had perfectly thing – adjacent astatine the tallness of fame – I had that resilience, that volition to survive

Rudolph Walker

He added that helium was driven to “utter despair” aft having to enactment successful a inexpensive hotel.

“There was a lavation basin, tiny bed, and a TV successful the corner, with a communal ablution and toilet successful the corridor”, helium said.

“I sat connected the furniture and cried. Questions of ‘Who americium I? Why americium I successful this position?’ There was nary mode the nationalist watching maine arsenic Patrick each different nighttime were alert that was what was happening.”

He added: “There is thing successful maine from puerility that has said, ‘I volition survive’, similar Gloria Gaynor said successful the song.

“Regardless of however hard things are, careless of however small I have, I volition survive.

“I came from a inheritance wherever I had precise little, truthful erstwhile I had perfectly thing – adjacent astatine the tallness of fame – I had that resilience, that volition to survive.”

He added: “I cognize today, radical volition spell to a psychiatrist, question help, and possibly I should person done, but I was getting it with the radical that I had astir me.”

“I americium wherever I americium contiguous due to the fact that of decisions I made implicit the years.

“Am I blessed with wherever I americium today? Yes, I’m highly happy. Maybe someone, the aged antheral up there, is looking aft me.”

Walker, who was made a CBE for services to play and foundation successful the 2020 New Year Honours list, joined EastEnders successful 2001 and is besides known for his relation arsenic Bill Reynolds successful sitcom Love Thy Neighbour.

His memoir, Walking With Dignity, is to beryllium released aboriginal successful the month.