Frank Barrie, known for his role as Edward Bishop in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, has died at the age of 88. His agent, Scott Marshall Partners, confirmed that he passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on June 30.
Barrie played the leader of the local church choir who embarked on a romance with Dot Cotton, portrayed by the late June Brown, from 2010 to 2011. Beyond his television work, Barrie was a distinguished stage actor and a member of Sir Laurence Olivier's National Theatre Company at the Old Vic.
His stage credits include numerous Shakespearean roles, as well as performances in The Woman In Black and Lunch With Marlene. Barrie's one-man show Macready! was performed in 65 countries and represented Great Britain at the 1982 Commonwealth Games Arts Festival in Australia.
Barrie made over 150 screen appearances, featuring in programmes such as Emergency Ward 10, No Hiding Place, Softly, Softly, Special Branch, On Giant's Shoulders, and Queen Of Swords. In 1983, he played Eglamour in the BBC adaptation of Shakespeare's The Two Gentlemen Of Verona.
He also worked as a director and writer, with credits including Shylock, JM Barrie, The Life And Loves Of Edith Wharton, and the BBC broadcast The Other Woman starring Dame Thora Hird. Barrie met his wife Mary while attending Hull University, where he was president of the debating union.
Tributes have been paid on social media, with one user describing him as 'a gentleman, a teacher and a supportive wing man' and 'a true man of the theatre'. He is survived by his wife Mary and daughter Julia.
