Mike Reid, best known for playing Frank Butcher in EastEnders, died in 2007 at age 67 having lost both his fortune and, in his own words, 'everything that mattered.' The actor and comedian's life was marked by personal tragedy and financial ruin.
Reid's son Mark, who had severe mental health issues, shot dead a friend in 1990 before setting himself alight and dying from his injuries. Months later, Reid's granddaughter - Mark's daughter - died from cot death. Years earlier, his first child had died just five days after being born.
In his autobiography, Reid wrote: '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.' He added: 'Mark killed himself in the most horrible way you could imagine.'
The actor's financial troubles stemmed from a catastrophic property venture in Spain that consumed a substantial portion of his fortune, leaving him and relatives in serious difficulty.
Born in Hackney in 1940, Reid left school early and worked as a stuntman before finding fame on the stand-up circuit and ITV's The Comedians. He joined EastEnders in 1987, with his character Frank Butcher becoming a fan favourite.
Reid admitted that playing Frank's mental health breakdown storyline in the mid-1990s caused him real anxiety, leading to a year-long break from the show. He later appeared in Guy Ritchie's Snatch and continued cabaret work until his death.
