Former Waterloo Road actor Reece Douglas has revealed that his father has died by suicide. The 37-year-old, who played Denzil Kelly in the BBC school drama, shared the news on Instagram on Thursday, October 30, alongside a photo of himself smiling with his dad.
Douglas joined Waterloo Road in 2009, portraying troubled teenager Denzil Kelly. His character struggled with a difficult home life and complex family dynamics before being killed in a lorry accident while travelling to Scotland in 2012, during series seven.
Following his time on the show, Douglas continued his acting career with roles in Doctors, Casualty and Holby City. He later stepped away from entertainment to work in technology and is currently chief executive of the tech start-up Social Plug, which connects brands and agencies with content creators.
In his tribute, Douglas wrote: “I love you so much dad. Knowing my dad recently, more so than ever, never did I truly know he'd take his life. I'm going to make you so proud.” His 13,000 followers quickly offered support, with one commenting: “So sorry to hear this. Thinking of you and your family. You'll continue to make him proud every day.”
Fellow actors also expressed their condolences. Emmerdale's Danny Miller wrote: “Oh mate, I'm so sorry! Sending loads of love brother,” while former Emmerdale and Hollyoaks star Anthony Quinn added: “Sorry to hear the news mate. Sending love and thoughts to you and family.”
