Mike Reid was a beloved soap star, but his life was marred by tragedy and financial difficulties – and he died with ‘nothing left’
He ranked among Britain’s most beloved soap stars – but behind the trilby hat and cheeky grin of EastEnders rogue Frank Butcher, Mike Reid’s actual life was far more turbulent than the character he played.
The comic-turned-actor rose from the East End club circuit to reach nationwide stardom, but a string of personal tragedies and ruinous money troubles left him broken.
When he died in 2007, aged just 67, Reid had lost both his fortune and, in his own words, “everything that mattered.”
Born in 1940 in Hackney, East London, Reid emerged from modest origins and quit school early.
Before making his mark in showbusiness, he led a colourful existence that reportedly included petty crime and, most famously, connections with East End figures such as the Kray twins, reports the Express.
He first worked as a stuntman on films like The Dirty Dozen and the James Bond spoof Casino Royale during the 1960s before moving into comedy.
His sharp tongue and lightning-fast delivery soon made him a hit with audiences on the stand-up circuit.
By the early 1970s, he had become a household name across the country, featuring on the ITV show The Comedians. At the height of the show’s success, it brought him nationwide fame and cemented his standing as a no-nonsense performer with his distinctive cockney style.
In 1987, Reid landed the role that would define his entire professional life – Frank Butcher in EastEnders.
Initially introduced as a part-time character, Frank became a permanent fixture the next year when he purchased the Queen Vic from Den Watts.
With his trademark trilby, flashy clothing, and machine-gun delivery, Butcher quickly became one of the programme’s most memorable figures.
Reid’s own personality often blended with his on-screen alter ego.
He admitted that playing Frank’s mental health crisis storyline in the mid-1990s was so taxing that he suffered anxiety himself and left the show for more than a year.
However, he returned multiple times, with Frank’s turbulent romances with Pat (Pam St Clement) and Peggy (Barbara Windsor) being among the soap’s most-watched scenes.
Beyond EastEnders, Reid continued his acting work, appearing in Guy Ritchie’s Snatch as diamond dealer Doug “The Head” and in various smaller-budget films.
He also maintained his connection to the cabaret circuit, where his roots in stand-up remained part of his repertoire.
While Reid’s career brought celebrity status and financial stability, his private life was marked by a succession of heartbreaking incidents. In 1990, his youngest son Mark, who had been grappling with severe mental health issues for years, tragically killed a friend.
He then set himself on fire and succumbed to 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.”
Months later, Reid’s granddaughter – Mark’s daughter – sadly died from cot death.
Years earlier, his first child had passed away just five days after birth.
Reid candidly spoke about how these heartbreaking losses impacted him, admitting that the pain never fades: “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 took a nosedive.
A catastrophic investment in Spain wiped out a significant portion of his wealth, leaving not only him but also members of his extended family in financial difficulty. Despite health warnings, Reid was a heavy smoker for most of his life.
In July 2007, while living in Marbella, Spain, he suffered a suspected heart attack and died at the age of 67. This came just weeks after he had been given a clean bill of health following a thorough medical check-up.
Despite a lengthy career in showbiz, which included prime-time television roles and lucrative comedy tours, he died in 2007 with very little money left.
Reid’s funeral took place at Little Easton Parish Church in Essex and was attended by over 250 people, including many of his former EastEnders co-stars such as Pam St Clement, Barbara Windsor, June Brown, and Sid Owen. Fans were also invited to pay their respects, reflecting the public’s fondness for him.
