He was amongst Britain's most cherished soap actors - but beneath the trilby and mischievous smile of EastEnders' rogue Frank Butcher, Mike Reid's real life proved far more chaotic than his on-screen persona.
From East End Clubs to National Fame
The comedian-turned-actor climbed from the East End club scene to achieve national fame, yet a succession of personal catastrophes and devastating financial woes left him shattered. When he passed away in 2007, at only 67, Reid had forfeited both his wealth and, by his own admission, 'everything that mattered.'
Born in Hackney, East London in 1940, Reid came from humble beginnings and left school at an early age. Prior to establishing himself in entertainment, he lived a varied life that allegedly involved minor criminal activity and, most notably, associations with East End personalities including the Kray twins. He initially worked as a stuntman on productions such as The Dirty Dozen and the James Bond parody Casino Royale throughout the 1960s before transitioning into comedy.
Rise to Stardom
His razor-sharp wit and rapid-fire delivery quickly won over crowds on the stand-up scene. By the early 1970s, he'd become a recognisable face nationwide, appearing on the ITV programme The Comedians. During the show's peak popularity, it brought him countrywide recognition and established his reputation as an uncompromising entertainer with his characteristic cockney manner.
In 1987, Reid secured the part that would come to define his entire career - Frank Butcher in EastEnders. Originally brought in as a part-time role, Frank became a regular presence the following year after buying the Queen Vic from Den Watts. With his signature trilby hat, flamboyant attire, and rapid-fire speech, Butcher quickly emerged as one of the show's most unforgettable characters.
Personal Tragedies
While Reid's professional life delivered fame and financial security, his personal life was scarred by a series of devastating tragedies. In 1990, his youngest son Mark, who had been struggling with profound mental health difficulties for years, fatally shot a friend. He subsequently set himself alight and died from his wounds.
'It is my true and honest belief that Mark had gone to scare his mate by firing at the wall beside him but instead shot him point-blank in the heart,' Reid wrote in his autobiography T'riffic. 'The shooting might have been intentional but the end result wasn't. I know Mark was clear-headed enough to ring his mum then go back to Ian to try to staunch the blood with towels. It was no good because the poor lad must have been dead before he hit the ground.'
He added: 'Mark killed himself in the most horrible way you could imagine.' Several months afterwards, Reid's granddaughter - Mark's daughter - tragically died from cot death. Years before, his first child had died merely five days following birth.
Financial Ruin and Death
Reid's finances also took a severe hit. A disastrous investment in Spain obliterated a substantial amount of his fortune, leaving not only him but also relatives in his wider family facing monetary hardship. Despite an extensive showbusiness career encompassing prime-time television appearances and profitable comedy tours, he died in 2007 with minimal finances remaining.
Despite health warnings, Reid was a prolific smoker for the majority of his life. In July 2007, while residing in Marbella, Spain, he suffered a suspected heart attack and passed away aged 67. This happened just weeks after receiving a clean bill of health from a comprehensive medical examination.
Reid's funeral was held at Little Easton Parish Church in Essex and drew more than 250 attendees, including numerous former EastEnders colleagues such as Pam St Clement, Barbara Windsor, June Brown, and Sid Owen. Members of the public were also welcomed to pay tribute, demonstrating the widespread affection for him. The BBC devoted an EastEnders episode to his memory, a suitable acknowledgement of the actor who had given so much to the programme.
