British actor Ray Brooks, whose career spanned six decades and encompassed acclaimed film roles and beloved television performances, as well as the voice of one of the UK’s most iconic children’s characters, has died at the age of 86. He passed away on Saturday after a short illness, with his family at his bedside. He had suffered from dementia in recent years.
Brooks first rose to prominence in the mid-1960s with his breakout role as the enigmatic Tolen in The Knack… And How to Get It (1965), an avant-garde comedy directed by Richard Lester. The movie embodied the essence of the Swinging London period and received the esteemed Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival prior to its premiere in London. Brooks, while embodying Tolen, radiated natural charisma, depicting a self-assured womaniser who instructs the uneasy Colin, portrayed by Michael Crawford, in “the Knack” of seduction. His unassuming yet remarkable performance received acclaim from critics, who appreciated his ability to transform even the most basic actions into memorable scenes on screen.
The actor followed this achievement with another significant role in Ken Loach’s socially aware TV drama Cathy Come Home (1966), where he, alongside Carol White, presented a powerful work based on homelessness and the housing crisis that prevailed in 1960s Britain. The production turned out to be one of the BBC’s most influential dramas, adding ammunition to Brooks’ reputation as a versatile and serious performer.
Despite his early acclaim, Brooks later admitted that he struggled to get the most out of his initial fame. “I think I was naive,” he reflected in later interviews. “I thought they would come to me.” While offers had come in, many of the proposed projects failed to secure funding, causing his career momentum to slow down. Even so, Brooks remained a familiar presence on British television and in film for decades.
One of Brooks’ most enduring contributions came in 1971-72 as the narrator of Mr Benn, the animated BBC adaptation of David McKee’s beloved children’s books. Although only 13 episodes were produced, the series was repeated for more than 20 years, and Brooks’ warm narration, especially the catchphrase “as if by magic”, became iconic. His sons Will and Tom later shared that their father believed he was best known for this role, with fans often requesting him to repeat the famous line.
Brooks’ screen career remained remarkably diverse, with him appearing in both Coronation Street and EastEnders, making him one of the few actors to have graced both of Britain’s most famous soaps. He played Joe Macer in EastEnders, the man responsible for the on-screen death of original character Pauline Fowler in the mid-2000s. His earlier stint in Coronation Street during the 1960s saw him as Norman Phillips in a short but memorable role.
Film and television audiences also saw Brooks in various projects, from cult favorites like the 1966 feature Daleks’ Invasion Earth: 2150 A.D., a big-screen Doctor Who adventure, to British comedy staples such as Carry On Abroad (1972). His dramatic range extended to roles in The Avengers, Public Eye, Jackanory, Death of an Expert Witness, Two Thousand Acres of Sky, and numerous anthology plays for the UK’s ITV and the BBC.
In the 1980s, Brooks starred in the BBC dramedy Big Deal, created by Geoff McQueen, as small-time poker player Robbie Box, whose gambling highs and lows affected his long-suffering girlfriend and daughter. The show ran for three series and added another memorable chapter to Brooks’ wide-ranging career.
Tributes have poured in from colleagues and fans. The BBC’s EastEnders team shared a message that said, “We are deeply saddened to hear that Ray Brooks has passed away. Ray will always be remembered fondly by everyone that worked with him.”
