Kristian Ealey, the actor best known for playing Matt Musgrove in the Liverpool-based soap operas Brookside and Hollyoaks, died at the age of 38 after going to bed with a pain in his arm while in Italy in May 2016. He never woke up.
Career Highlights and Early Roles
Ealey achieved a British first by transitioning the same character, Matt Musgrove, from Brookside, where he starred from 1998 until 2000, into Hollyoaks. He remained part of the Hollyoaks cast until 2004 and also appeared in the spin-offs Hollyoaks: Indecent Behaviour and Hollyoaks: After Hours. His first role was in the Liverpool-based drama Bread at the age of nine.
In addition to acting, Ealey was a talented musician. He performed regularly in his home town of Liverpool with his band, Tramp Attack, and played Beatles icon Ringo Starr in the film In His Life: The John Lennon Story.
Tributes from Co-Stars
Following his death, former Hollyoaks star Gemma Atkinson said: "Just awful. What a lovely, lovely man! Had many laughs with him at work back in the day. RIP." Suzanne Collins, Ealey's Brookside co-star who now appears in Hollyoaks, said: "I'm very privileged to have called him a friend. There were a gang of the young ones who grew up on the set of Brookside, we called ourselves the Brookie Brat Pack and have an incredible bond. We were together nearly every day on set and we socialised out of work together, we became family. It has shocked us all to the core. Kris was full of life, full of smiles and so full of music."
Former Hollyoaks star Helen Noble wrote: "So saddened to hear the news about Smithdownslim - one of the nicest guys I knew at the oaks. Always smiling £RIPKris." Hollyoaks production company Lime Pictures said: "Many crew worked with Kristian on both Hollyoaks and Brookside and enjoyed following his musical success after leaving the show. The news has been met with shock and sadness on set and everyone's thoughts are with his family at this time." Former Hollyoaks star Ben Hull said: "Shocked and saddened to hear of the sudden passing of Kristian Ealey. He was such a talented actor & musician, and a really lovely guy. RIP."
Legacy and Tenth Anniversary
Ealey's cause of death is still believed to be unknown. On the tenth anniversary of his death earlier in 2026, the Liverpool-based grass roots music festival Smithdown paid tribute on social media, stating: "Today marks 10 years since we lost a local legend, so we want to pay tribute to one of the biggest champions of local music Kris Ealey, who died on 3rd May 2016. As news spread through the festival it was hard to fully comprehend that we'd lost 'Smithdown Slim' at such a young age. Kris was the singer for indie band Tramp Attack, ran Cahoots music venue (where Decent Donuts is now) and also played the role of Matt Musgrove in Hollyoaks and Brookside. We also named our main outdoor stage after him in 2017 and 2018. Our thoughts go out to all of his friends and family on this poignant day, so let's all raise a glass to a real one of a kind."
