Ray Brooks, the renowned British actor known for his roles in EastEnders and Ken Loach’s Cathy Come Home and for narrating the children’s TV show Mr Benn, has passed away at the age of 86. Brooks peacefully departed from this world on Saturday after a brief illness, with his loved ones by his side.
In the last few years of his life, Brooks battled with dementia, as revealed by a statement from his family shared with the BBC.
His sons, Will and Tom, expressed their love for their father and fondly remembered his passions: “His three true loves were family (he also had a daughter Emma, who died in 2003), Fulham Football Club, and spending time in Brighton, where he was born.”
Brooks will also be remembered for his role in narrating Mr Benn, a beloved cartoon series for children. The show, which featured only 13 episodes but remained popular due to regular reruns for over 21 years, followed the adventures of a character who entered a magical costume shop and traveled to new places based on the costumes he wore. Brooks once admitted that he had a hard time with the show’s rhymes, even admitted to having a couple of pints to make it easier to record. Despite the challenges, he loved the simplicity and moral lessons of the show, which continued to resonate with grandchildren of the original audience.
Brooks had a diverse career in television, appearing in various primetime shows such as ITV’s Coronation Street and EastEnders, where he played Joe Macer, a character who famously killed his wife, Pauline Fowler. Brooks also starred in the BBC comedy drama Big Deal, and earned film credits for his roles, including a memorable appearance in The Knack…And How To Get It, which won the 1965 Palme d’Or at the Cannes film festival.
One of Brooks’ notable roles was in Ken Loach’s Cathy Come Home, a BBC drama that explored the impact of Britain’s housing shortage in the late 1960s. In 2000, a British Film Institute poll ranked it as the second-best British television program ever made, behind Fawlty Towers.
In addition to his successful acting career, Brooks also had a passion for Fulham Football Club and loved spending time in his hometown of Brighton. His legacy in the entertainment industry will be remembered for years to come.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/aug/11/ray-brooks-british-actor-and-voice-of-mr-benn-dies-aged-86
