EastEnders character Big Ron continued to appear on screen for months after the actor behind him, Ron Tarr, died in 1997, thanks to episodes filmed before his death.
Character's On-Screen Exit
Big Ron was a beloved character on the show from its inception in 1985 until 1997, though he remained more of a background figure. He was involved in several central storylines but mostly appeared interacting with the main cast, with little known about him.
When the real man behind the character died, it left producers in a difficult position. Ronald Lawrence Morisco-Tarr, professionally known as Ron Tarr, passed away from cancer on October 20, 1997, at the age of 60. Like his character, he was believed to be a market trader in real life, running a stall in Southall market where he sold household appliance spares.
Pre-Recorded Episodes
Following his sudden death, Big Ron appeared in a series of pre-recorded episodes filmed before his passing, so he appeared to viewers as alive and well. That continued until the episodes caught up with time, and the writers had to quickly devise a solution.
Ron's character was written out of the series in early 1998, with an explanation that he had won the lottery and decided to move to Spain. He never appeared in an EastEnders episode again.
Other Roles and Tributes
During his time on EastEnders, Ron also appeared in a special Doctor Who episode, Dimensions in Time, a charity crossover between the sci-fi series and the soap. It was filmed on the Albert Square set and featured several stars, with Ron having an essential role in the storyline.
The actor also starred in Carry On Girls in 1973, made an appearance in Star Wars, and featured in Eat the Rich. He appeared in several TV advertisements, including a 1989 ad for the Do-It-All DIY chain and a 1990 ad for Sugar Puffs, where he played a character running a fairground stall.
Following his death, a number of EastEnders cast members attended his funeral, including Ross Kemp, Steve McFadden, and Wendy Richards. A Facebook fan page in his memory, allegedly created with permission from his daughter Sam, is named 'Big Ron Tarr'. In one memorial post, a fan commented: "Big Ron used to drink in the Two Bridges pub in Croxley Green. Always had time to say a quick hello to me. He was a great guy."
