Mike Reid, the EastEnders star who played Frank Butcher, died penniless in 2007 after devastating personal tragedies and financial ruin left the beloved actor broke
He was one of Britain’s most beloved soap actors – yet behind the trilby hat and mischievous smile of EastEnders ‘ scoundrel Frank Butcher, Mike Reid’s real life was far more tumultuous than the character he portrayed.
The comedian-turned-actor ascended from the East End club scene to achieve national fame, but a series of personal calamities and devastating financial woes left him shattered.
When he passed away in 2007, at just 67, Reid had lost not only his wealth but also, in his own words, “everything that mattered.” Born in Hackney, East London, in 1940, Reid came from humble beginnings and left school early.
Before making his name in the entertainment industry, he led a vibrant life that reportedly involved minor criminal activities and, most notably, associations with notorious East End figures like the Kray twins.
He initially worked as a stuntman on films such as The Dirty Dozen and the James Bond parody Casino Royale during the 1960s before transitioning into comedy.
His quick wit and rapid-fire delivery soon made him a favourite among stand-up audiences.
By the early 1970s, he had become a familiar face nationwide, featuring on the ITV show The Comedians. At the peak of the show’s popularity, it brought him national recognition and solidified his reputation as a straight-talking performer with his unique cockney style.
In 1987, Reid secured the role that would come to define his entire career – Frank Butcher in EastEnders. Initially introduced as a part-time character, Frank became a mainstay the following year when he bought the Queen Vic from Den Watts.
With his signature trilby, flamboyant attire, and rapid-fire delivery, Butcher quickly established himself as one of the show’s most unforgettable characters. Reid’s own personality often merged with that of his on-screen persona.
He confessed that playing Frank’s mental health crisis storyline in the mid-1990s was so emotionally draining that it triggered his own anxiety, leading him to take a break from the show for over a year.
However, he made several comebacks, with Frank’s tumultuous love affairs with Pat (Pam St Clement) and Peggy ( Barbara Windsor ) ranking among the soap’s most viewed scenes.
Beyond EastEnders, Reid continued to act, featuring in Guy Ritchie’s Snatch as diamond trader Doug “The Head” and in various lower-budget films. He also kept his ties to the cabaret circuit, where his stand-up comedy roots remained a part of his act.
While Reid’s career brought him fame and financial security, his personal life was punctuated by a series of devastating events. In 1990, his youngest son Mark, who had been battling severe mental health problems for years, tragically killed a friend.
He then set himself alight and died from his injuries. “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,” Reid wrote in his autobiography T’riffic.
“The shooting might have been intentional but the end result wasn’t. I know Mark was clear-headed enough to ring his mum then go back to Ian to try to staunch the blood with towels. It was no good because the poor lad must have been dead before he hit the ground.
“As time went on after Ian’s death, it appeared Mark got it into his head that he’d caused so much suffering to others, he should inflict as much as possible on himself.”
He said: “Mark killed himself in the most horrible way you could imagine.” Tragically, Reid’s granddaughter – Mark’s daughter – passed away from cot death a few months later. Years earlier, his first child had died just five days after birth.
Reid openly discussed how these devastating losses affected him, confessing that the pain never subsides: “People must see me on TV or in cabaret laughing, singing, cracking gags and imagine that time has healed the pain and the scars. If only they knew. My son is locked away inside – not forgotten, just hidden away in what part we keep our private grief. Otherwise I couldn’t function.”
Reid’s financial situation also suffered. A disastrous investment in Spain obliterated a significant chunk of his wealth, leaving not only him but also members of his extended family in financial strife. Despite health warnings, Reid was a heavy smoker for the majority of his life.
In July 2007, while living in Marbella, Spain, he tragically suffered a suspected heart attack and passed away at the age of 67. This happened just weeks after he had been given an all-clear following a comprehensive medical examination.
Despite a lengthy career in showbiz, encompassing prime-time television roles and profitable comedy tours, he sadly died in 2007 with very little money remaining.
Reid’s funeral was held at Little Easton Parish Church in Essex and was attended by over 250 people, including many of his former EastEnders colleagues such as Pam St Clement, Barbara Windsor, June Brown, and Sid Owen. Fans were also invited to pay their respects, reflecting the public’s affection for him.
The BBC dedicated an episode of EastEnders to his memory, a fitting tribute to the actor who contributed so much to the soap.
