When Ali Osman joined the original cast of EastEnders, his character was a firm favorite in Walford, playing a key role in a number of compelling plots.
Die-hard EastEnders fans will never forget Ali Osman. Nejdet Adamson, a member of the original cast of the much-loved British soap, played the character and became a household name in Walford some 40 years ago before he jetted off to chase his Hollywood dreams. During his time on Albert Square, Ali was embroiled in intense storylines involving marital breakdowns, the grief of losing a child, and a troubling gambling addiction.
He also ran the café, then-known as Al’s Café, alongside his wife Sue, played by actress Sandy Ratcliff – and later started a taxi firm, OzCabs, alongside his brother Mehmet, running it from a corner table in the café. Sadly, Sandy – who was also an original cast member – died alone in sheltered housing from an accidental overdose, back in 2019. She was 70 years old.
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After leaving EastEnders, 66 year old Nejdet made a dramatic career switch from Walford to Hollywood, landing a role as a short sailor in the blockbuster hits Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and its sequel Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006).
Pirates of the Carribean: The Curse of the Black Pearl pulled in a whopping 654.3 million USD, while its sequel, Dead Man’s Chest, amassed a global total of $1.066 billion. Post-EastEnders, he bagged a role in Carry On Columbus as Fayid, sharing the spotlight with comedy icon Rik Mayall.
But he hasn’t been shy about discussing his professional struggles, confessing on the soap’s 25th anniversary in 2010: “I have had to live with Ali for 25 years. I’m just trying to get on with my life.” Maintaining a low profile, he added: “I don’t give interviews. I am still acting but it is hard when everyone I’m still Ali from the café,” reports OK!.
Nej also popped up in two episodes of TV comedy drama Auf Wiedersehen Pet, and has had parts in Doctor Who and Wall of Silence (2004). While juggling the life of a small-time actor, Nejdet even briefly moved to Hollywood in 1990.
Tinseltown, however, was not exactly what the actor had hoped it would be. His marriage to Susan Stevens, his love of drama, came to an end in 1990, just one year after their union.
Nejdet and Linda Davidson, who played Mary Smith in the TV series EastEnders, had a lull relationship before getting married to Stevens. He has recently appeared in the horror film Heckle and previously appeared in the crime drama Sleep Warm.
The actor has a personal net worth of between £1 million and £5 million, according to estimates. After his time on EastEnders ended in 1989, he changed his name to Nej Adamson. He calls London home for the long term.
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Source: Mirror
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