Eastenders actor Michael Keating who starred on show for 12 years & appeared in every episode of Blake’s 7 dies aged 79
EASTENDERS star Michael Keating has died aged 79, with tributes pouring in from heartbroken fans.
The actor starred in the soap opera from 2005 to 2017 as Reverend Stevens.
He often appeared alongside regular churchgoer Dot Cotton, played by June Brown.
Other roles included Yes Minister, Micro Men, Casualty and Midsomer Murders.
And Michael was the only actor to appear in all 52 episodes of the beloved science fiction series Blake’s 7.
He played the cowardly criminal Vila Restal, known for his ability to get through any security system.
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The show ran for four seasons from 1978 until 1981.
The English actor has been described as “one of the most recognisable and best-loved faces in modern fiction” by Doctor Who production company Big Finish.
Michael had several roles in the Doctor Who franchise from early story “The Sun Makers” to audio adventure “The Twilight Kingdom”.
Tributes from fans of the show have flooded in on social media.
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One wrote: “Michael Keating the best thief in the galaxy. Another childhood hero gone. And Vila was a hero! RIP”
A second added: “Very sad news. Michael Keating has died aged 79. Loved him as Vila in Blake’s 7, and so many other roles ranging from EastEnders to Yes Minister.”
A third post read: “Very sad to hear that Michael Keating has passed away. A genuinely lovely man, and he was absolutely brilliant in every single episode of Blake’s 7. RIP.”
The acting legend was born in Edmonton, North London and started acting at 19.
His first role was on stage at the Nottingham Playhouse before he toured at theatres across the UK.
He returned to the stage with long stints at famous venues including the National Theatre and the Old Vic.
Peter Anghelides, a producer for Blake’s 7 at Big Finish, said: “What a joy it was to work with Michael.
“Little did I realise when first encountering him at BBC Television Centre in 1981 that some three decades later I would be writing and producing Big Finish Blake’s 7 audio stories for him as Vila Restal.
“His cheery presence on studio days was always most welcome. I would sit at the back of the Audio Sorcery control room hooting with laughter at his comic timing in our recordings.”
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He added: “Blake’s 7 fans loved him as Vila, the only character to appear in every Blake’s 7 TV episodes between 1978 and 1981 and in both BBC Radio plays.
“At one point in planning the second series, Terry Nation thought that Vila was a ‘borderline case’ for being dropped as a Liberator regular, until the production team acknowledged the character’s popularity – in no small part thanks to Michael’s adroit performance as the career thief and reluctant rebel.“