He was counted amongst Britain’s most cherished soap legends – but beneath the trademark trilby and mischievous smile of EastEnders Frank Butcher, Mike Reid’s real existence proved far more chaotic than the role he portrayed.

The comedian-turned-thespian climbed from the East End club scene to achieve national fame, yet a series of personal disasters and catastrophic financial woes left him shattered. When he passed away in 2007, at just 67, Reid had forfeited both his wealth and, by his own admission, “everything that mattered.”

Born in 1940 in Hackney, East London, Reid came from humble beginnings and left education prematurely. Prior to establishing himself in entertainment, he lived a vibrant life that allegedly encompassed minor criminal activity and, most notably, associations with East End personalities including the Kray twins.

He initially worked as a stuntman on productions such as The Dirty Dozen and the James Bond parody Casino Royale throughout the 1960s before transitioning into comedy. His razor-sharp wit and rapid-fire style quickly endeared him to punters on the stand-up scene. By the early 1970s, he had established himself as a recognisable face nationwide, appearing on the ITV programme The Comedians.

During the show’s peak popularity, it delivered him countrywide recognition and solidified his reputation as a straight-talking entertainer with his unmistakable cockney flair. In 1987, Reid secured the part that would come to define his entire career – Frank Butcher in EastEnders. Originally brought in as a part-time character, Frank became a mainstay the following year after buying the Queen Vic from Den Watts.

Sporting his signature trilby hat, garish outfits, and rapid-fire dialogue, Butcher swiftly emerged as one of the show’s most unforgettable personalities. Reid’s own character frequently merged with his television persona. He confessed that portraying Frank’s mental health breakdown storyline during the mid-1990s proved so draining that he experienced anxiety attacks himself and departed the programme for over a year.

Nevertheless, he made several comebacks, with Frank’s stormy relationships with Pat (Pam St Clement) and Peggy ( Barbara Windsor ) ranking amongst the soap’s highest-rated episodes. Outside EastEnders, Reid pursued his acting career, featuring in Guy Ritchie’s Snatch as gem trader Doug “The Head” and in numerous lower-budget productions. He also preserved his ties to the cabaret scene, where his stand-up comedy background remained integral to his performances.

Whilst Reid’s career delivered fame and monetary security, his personal life was plagued by a series of devastating tragedies. In 1990, his youngest son Mark, who had been battling serious mental health problems for years, fatally shot a friend. He subsequently doused himself in petrol and died from his burns.

“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 memoir 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 afterwards, Reid’s granddaughter – Mark’s daughter – tragically succumbed to cot death.

Years before, his first child had died just five days after being born. Reid openly discussed how these devastating bereavements affected him, confessing that the anguish remains constant: “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 finances also plummeted dramatically. A disastrous investment in Spain obliterated a substantial chunk of his fortune, plunging not only him but also relatives into monetary hardship. Despite medical advice, Reid remained a chain smoker throughout most of his years. In July 2007, whilst residing in Marbella, Spain, he tragically suffered a suspected heart attack and passed away at the age of 67.

This shocking event occurred just weeks after he had been given the all-clear following a comprehensive medical examination. Despite a long-standing career in the entertainment industry, which encompassed prime-time telly roles and profitable comedy tours, he sadly passed away in 2007 with very little money to his name.

Reid’s funeral was held at Little Easton Parish Church in Essex and saw over 250 attendees, including many of his former EastEnders colleagues such as Pam St Clement, Barbara Windsor, June Brown, and Sid Owen. Fans were also welcomed to pay their respects, reflecting the public’s affection for him. The BBC honoured him by dedicating an episode of EastEnders to his memory, a fitting tribute to the actor who contributed so much to the soap.