Notorious for his iconic portrayal of Dirty Den in the long-running British soap opera EastEnders, the actor's life was marked by a tumultuous past, which included a stint in the army, where he committed a heinous crime, murdering a taxi driver, and was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment.
Serving a decade-long sentence at Wormwood Scrubs, the actor's life took an unexpected turn when a touring company brought a production to the prison, sparking a transformation within him. He joined the prison's theatre group, participating in every play they staged during his incarceration, a experience that had a profound impact on his personal growth.
Upon his release from prison, the actor pursued a career in acting, and in 1986, he married actress Jane Laurie, with whom he was expecting a child, due to arrive in September of that year.
