Lost icons of EastEnders: full list of cast members who passed away

Over 40 melodramatic years, EastEnders has made america laugh, outcry and gasp with its unthinkable storylines - and larger than beingness characters. Dame Barbara Windsor turned Peggy Mitchell into an icon, portion June Brown delivered stellar performances occurrence aft occurrence arsenic devout Dot Cotton. Here we look astatine the mislaid legends of EastEnders.

Dame Barbara Windsor (1937 - 2020)

Dame Barbara Windsor captivated audiences for implicit six decades with her infectious energy, distinctive laugh, and undeniable charm. Best known for her roles successful the Carry On films and arsenic Peggy Mitchell successful EastEnders, Babs became a nationalist treasure, earning accolades for her contributions to television, film, and theatre.

Born Barbara Ann Deeks connected August 6, 1937, successful London, she made her signifier debut astatine conscionable 13 and soon earned a BAFTA and a Tony Award nomination, it was her clip with the Carry On films, however, that cemented her spot successful British culture.

Her vocation took different defining crook successful 1994 erstwhile she joined EastEnders arsenic Peggy Mitchell, the fiery landlady of the Queen Vic pub and the widowed parent of Phil, Grant, and Samantha Mitchell. Taking implicit a antecedently insignificant character, Barbara transformed Peggy into 1 of the astir iconic figures successful British soap history. Her catchphrase—“Get outta my pub!”—became legendary, and her portrayal earned her a British Soap Award for Best Actress successful 1999.

She departed EastEnders successful 2016 and was made a Dame (DBE) the aforesaid twelvemonth for her services to foundation and entertainment. Following her Alzheimer’s diagnosis successful 2014, she and her husband, Scott Mitchell, became tireless advocates for dementia awareness.

Dame Barbara Windsor passed distant connected December 10, 2020, astatine the property of 83. Tributes poured successful from crossed the federation and Prince William described Barbara arsenic “a existent nationalist treasure.”

June Brown (1927 - 2022)

With a vocation spanning implicit 70 years, June Brown was champion known for her unforgettable portrayal of Dot Cotton successful EastEnders.

June joined the BBC soap successful 1985, conscionable months aft its debut, taking connected the relation of the chain-smoking, devoutly spiritual Dot Cotton. One of Brown’s astir defining storylines came with Dot’s narration with her wayward son, Nick Cotton. In 2008, she made past by performing a monologue-driven episode, Pretty Baby, successful which Dot recorded a portion for her husband, Jim, aft helium suffered a stroke. The occurrence earned Brown a BAFTA nomination—an unprecedented accomplishment for a British soap histrion astatine the time.

June passed distant peacefully connected April 3, 2022, astatine the property of 95. Tributes poured successful from crossed the amusement industry, with EastEnders stars past and contiguous hailing her arsenic 1 of the top actresses to ever grace British television.

Leslie Grantham (1947 - 2018)

Best known for his relation arsenic “Dirty” Den Watts, Leslie Grantham cemented himself arsenic 1 of the astir infamous villains successful British television. Grantham had an unconventional way to stardom, having served 10 years successful situation for a execution helium committed portion posted arsenic an service fusilier successful West Germany.

Den became a EastEnders instrumentality favourite successful 1985, known for his scheming ways, turbulent matrimony to Angie, and explosive storylines. His Christmas Day 1986 showdown with Angie—where helium handed her divorcement papers—was watched by implicit 30 cardinal viewers. In 1989, Den was seemingly killed disconnected aft being changeable and near for dormant successful a canal. But successful existent soap fashion, helium made a shocking instrumentality successful 2003. Leslie Grantham passed distant connected June 15, 2018, astatine the property of 71.

Wendy Richard (1943 - 2009)

Wendy Richard was a British household name, champion known for her long-running relation arsenic Pauline Fowler successful EastEnders. Born connected July 20, 1943, Richard archetypal recovered fame successful the 1970s arsenic Miss Brahms successful the classical sitcom Are You Being Served?. Once the sitcom ended, she joined EastEnders arsenic the matriarch of the Fowler family. Her clip connected EastEnders lasted implicit 21 years, but her tenure ended successful 2006. Wendy Richard passed distant connected February 26, 2009, aft a conflict with cancer.

Mike Reid (1940 - 2007)

Mike Reid is remembered for his relation arsenic Frank Butcher, the beloved Queen Vic landlord. Reid’s quality was progressive successful galore fashionable storylines, peculiarly his turbulent relationships with Pat Wicks and Peggy Mitchell. In 1994, Reid took a interruption from the amusement owed to accent but returned successful 1995. Mike Reid passed distant connected July 29, 2007, astatine the property of 67 from a suspected bosom attack.

Anna Wing (1914 - 2013)

Anna Wing became champion known for playing Lou Beale, the matriarch of the Beale family. She appeared connected the amusement from its debut successful 1985 until 1988. Wing passed distant connected July 7, 2013, astatine the property of 98.

Bill Treacher (1930 - 2022)

The archetypal idiosyncratic to beryllium formed for EastEnders, Bill Treacher portrayed Arthur Fowler for eleven years. His quality struggled with galore hardships, including his lad Mark’s HIV diagnosis and his ain intelligence decline. Treacher near the amusement successful 1995 owed to the accent of the role, and passed distant connected November 5, 2022, astatine the property of 92.

Gretchen Franklin (1911 - 2005)

Gretchen Franklin portrayed Ethel Skinner, a gossipy yet endearing quality who became a instrumentality favorite. Franklin’s portrayal was marked by some wit and sadness, particularly arsenic Ethel dealt with dementia. She was killed disconnected successful 2000 successful a arguable euthanasia storyline. Gretchen Franklin passed distant connected July 11, 2005, astatine the property of 94.

Michael Elphick (1946 - 2002)

Michael Elphick joined EastEnders successful 2001 arsenic Harry Slater, whose acheronian past was revealed successful a harrowing storyline. Elphick’s struggles with alcoholism led to his departure from the show. He passed distant connected September 7, 2002, astatine the property of 55.

Edna Doré (1921 - 2014)

Known for her relation arsenic Mo Butcher, Edna Doré played the pugnacious and interfering matriarch of the Butcher family. She passed distant connected April 11, 2014, astatine the property of 92.

Hilda Braid (1929 - 2007)

Hilda Braid’s relation arsenic Nana Moon brought some warmth and sadness to EastEnders. Nana’s eventual decease from dementia near a lasting interaction connected viewers, and Braid suffered from a akin destiny - She was diagnosed with Alzheimer's illness soon aft her departure from the show, and subsequently moved into a nursing location successful Hove. Braid passed distant connected November 6, 2007, astatine the property of 78.

Sandy Ratcliff (1948 - 2019)

Sandy Ratcliff portrayed Sue Osman successful the aboriginal years of EastEnders. She became portion of the show’s aboriginal tragedy, portraying a parent devastated by the cot decease of her baby. Ratcliff passed distant successful 2019 astatine the property of 70.

Sian Blake (1972 - 2015)

Sian Blake portrayed Frankie Pierre connected EastEnders, leaving a lasting content with her fiery character. Her vocation ended tragically erstwhile she passed distant successful 2015 astatine the property of 43. Her partner, Arthur Simpson-Kent, pleaded blameworthy to the murders of Sian and her 2 children.

Ross Davidson (1949 - 2006)

Ross Davidson played the altruistic caregiver Andy O'Brien for 18 months, aft which quality was the archetypal main 1 to beryllium killed off, dying successful a roadworthy mishap successful August 1986. He passed distant successful 2006 astatine the property of 57, aft being diagnosed with a encephalon tumour.

Christopher Hancock (1928 - 2004)

Christopher Hancock played conman Charlie Cotton from 1986 until 1990. His quality was killed disconnected successful July 1991 but his decease was not shown on-screen. He passed distant aft a bosom onslaught successful 2004, aged 76.

Lyndam Gregory (1955 - 2014)

Lyndam Gregory had a recurring relation arsenic Guppy Sharma connected EastEnders from 1995 to 1996. Even though helium wasn't a smoker, Gregory died from lung crab connected 15 July 2014 astatine the property of 59.

Paul Bhattacharjee (1960 - 2013)

Paul Bhattacharjee portrayed Inzamam Ahmed, the member of Masood Ahmed successful EastEnders. Bhattacharjee tragically took his ain beingness successful 2013 astatine the property of 53.

Gemma McCluskie (1983 - 2012)

Gemma McCluskie played Kerry Skinner successful EastEnders. She passed distant successful 2012 astatine the property of 29 - and successful January 2013, her brother, Tony McCluskie, was recovered blameworthy of her murder.

Tommy Eytle (1929 - 2008)

Tommy Eytle was a seasoned Guyanese histrion known for his relation arsenic Jules Tavernier successful EastEnders from 1990 to 1997 Bert Atkinson successful EastEnders. He passed distant from a bosom onslaught successful 2007 astatine the property of 80.

Ron Tarr (1936 - 1997)

Ron Tarr played Big Ron from the show's inception successful 1985 until conscionable earlier his decease successful October 1997. While his quality had fewer cardinal storylines, helium was often seen successful interactions with the main characters. Tarr passed distant successful 1997, aft battling cancer.