Ray Brooks, the British actor best known for narrating the children's cartoon Mr Benn and for roles in EastEnders and Cathy Come Home, has died at the age of 86. His family confirmed he passed away peacefully on Saturday after a short illness, and revealed that he had been living with dementia in recent years.
Brooks' sons, Will and Tom, said in a statement: "His three true loves were family (he also had a daughter Emma, who died in 2003), Fulham Football Club, and spending time in Brighton, where he was born."
The actor narrated all 13 episodes of Mr Benn, a cartoon about a man who visits a magical costume shop and embarks on adventures. Although only a short series, it became a beloved staple for generations due to its repeated broadcast twice a year for over 21 years.
Brooks later recalled the experience in a 2017 interview, saying: "I was asked to do other cartoons because of Mr Benn – including Rupert the Bear, which was the worst thing I've ever done." He also noted that the simplicity and morality of Mr Benn appealed to modern audiences.
His television career included prominent soap roles: Norman Phillips in Coronation Street and Joe Macer in EastEnders, where his character killed the long-running Pauline Fowler. He also starred in the BBC comedy drama Big Deal and appeared in films such as The Knack … And How To Get It, which won the Palme d'Or at Cannes in 1965.
In 1966, Brooks starred in Ken Loach's landmark BBC drama Cathy Come Home, a documentary-style exploration of the UK housing shortage. In 2000, it was ranked the second-best British television programme ever made by a British Film Institute poll, behind only Fawlty Towers.
