Actor Joseph Bennett, known for roles in BBC series including Doctors and Casualty, was found dead in Richmond Park, south-west London, on April 13, 2015, at the age of 47. He was married to Doc Martin actress Julie Graham.
Career and personal life
Bennett appeared in the film Howards End and television productions such as The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles and The Bill. He and Graham met while performing in a play together and married in secret in 2002, having two children.
Bennett died by suicide after being discovered hanging from a tree in Richmond Park. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said at the time: "A man in his mid-40s was pronounced dead at the scene. A report has been submitted to the coroner's officer."
Graham's recent revelations
Graham, who has since remarried, recently spoke about the loss, revealing the couple had separated three years before his death. "What [the media] didn't know, is Joe and I had been separated for three years," she explained on A Night In with Sally Lindsay and Channel 5 podcast in June. "We were divorced, in fact."
The Benidorm actress also shared the moment she received the news while filming. She said: "My ex-husband, father of my children, took his own life while we were filming. It was my first series."
Support and reflection
Graham described how the cast and crew supported her through grief, allowing her to step away, care for her children, and return to work when ready. She praised the Benidorm cast, who "wrapped their arms around me" and gave her time off, before calling her late ex-partner a "lovely husband" and describing the loss as the "worst time of my life".
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. In the UK, you can call the Samaritans at 116 123 for free, confidential support 24 hours a day or visit their website at www.samaritans.co.uk.
