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From The Times
July 30, 2007

Mike Reid, Cockney comedian and EastEnder, dies aged 67

Mike Read
Fiona Hamilton

Mike Reid, the gravel-voiced comedian and former EastEnders actor, has died of a heart attack in Marbella, Spain. He was 67.

Reid, who made his final appearance as Frank Butcher in the long-running BBC drama two years ago, made his name as a “cheeky Cockney” comedian.

His friend and fellow comedian Frank Carson said that it was absolutely devastating, coming so soon after the death of their friend Bernard Manning.

David Hahn, Mr Reid’s agent, paid tribute to the actor last night, describing him as a “very, very, very funny man” who would see the funny side in every situation, no matter how bad. “Even now I am sure he is laughing,” he said.

Reid, who played the wheeler-dealer Frank Butcher in EastEnders, rose to fame on London’s comedy circuit, working as a stand-up comedian in clubs and aboard cruise ships in the 1960s.

He was one of the original stars of the 1970s television series The Comedians and also hosted the children’s quiz show Runaround before securing the EastEnders’ role in 1987. Reid turned Butcher into one of the show’s most popular characters, and made his last appearance after a couple of lengthy breaks from the series.

He also appeared in Guy Ritchie’s gangster movie Snatch.

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