Standup comedian Mike Reid passed away at at 67. Many were shocked at the news of his death. For a lot of people, it was hard to believe since, Reid was in a great shape and a good health.
Reid’s manager expressed that he was rather shock to see him die. According to the manager David Hahn Mike got a clean bill of health:
Mike that particular day went to see his consultant and had a full medical - and they gave him a clean bill of health.
Born in Hackney, east London, Reid had to work his way up the career ladder all his life. Back in the 60’s, Reid worked as a standup comedian aboard cruise ships and clubs. His career really took off when he was invited to act out the character of Frank Butcher in the BBC soap Eastender.Reid also appeared in Guy Ritchie’s popular movie ‘Snatch’.
Reid also worked as a stuntman. As a stuntman, he worked on movies like ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’, ‘Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines’, and ‘Spartacus’. I think Reid was a natural when it came to acting. Personally, I think he was born to be an actor or rather, a performer.
Also, he had a great sense of humor in real life. People agreed that he was a very funny man. He was also considered a brilliant actor .Hahn acknowledged:
Mike was a very, very, very funny man.He would see the funny side of every situation, no matter how black it was.Even now I am sure he is laughing.
Frank Carson and actress Pam St.Clement were shocked and devastated by the situation. As Clement said:
It has come as a terrible shock - somebody larger than life as Mike was in person and character - he seemed indestructible.
Reid made his last show as Frank Butcher in December of 2005, when his long relationship with Pat finally ended. Coupled with Bernard Manning, and Mike Reid’s death, the British film industry has suffered a heavy blow.
Reid was working on a film project very recently. But, that was not to be. The world has lost a great actor, a funny man and an ex Eastender. Reid was considered to be larger than life.
Image Credit: BBC[1], [2]
