EastEnders star Rudolph Walker has courageously revealed his past struggles with homelessness and financial woes, despite being a beloved fixture on the show as Patrick Trueman. The veteran actor, 84, shared how for two years he concealed the heartbreaking reality of his situation from both his castmates and family, even tearing up during commutes to the Elstree set amid the "utter despair" of leading a "double life".
At a time when he was appearing on one of the BBC's flagship series, Walker found himself without a steady home, depending on the kindness of friends to stay off the streets. His co-stars were oblivious to his financial struggle that originated after a devastating divorce from his second wife, Dounne Alexander MBE in the mid-2010s.
After a storied career spanning four decades and despite being in his 70s, legal costs from the divorce drained his finances, leaving him virtually destitute with only his car. He was forced into such a dire state that at times he would look forward to night shoots not out of a love for acting, but because it meant the BBC might inadvertently provide temporary accommodation in a hotel nearby.
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Reflecting on those challenging times, Rudolph said: "It was painful. It was extremely difficult. I just didn't have any financial means. I was literally starting from scratch again in my 70s, with nowhere to live. It was a time of great pain and loneliness.", reports the Mirror.
He was determined to keep his struggles private, maintaining a cheerful facade at work as the ever-cheerful Patrick. "Some days on my way to the studio, I would pull up at the side of the road, have a cry," he discloses.
"I'd pull myself together, arrive at the studio and the environment would act as a tonic, and I was ready to go. I suppose it was a sort of double life."
Diane Parish, known for her role as Denise Fox, sensed something wasn't quite right. She would take moments during breaks to check on Rudolph, asking if everything was okay.
"Diane knew there was something going on, but I never revealed the depth of what was happening," he admits. "I am who I am."
Ahead of his autobiography release, 'Walking With Dignity', Rudolph is now sharing his past difficulties. He recalls hitting rock bottom when he stayed in a budget hotel that was more akin to a hostel.
"There was a wash basin, small bed, and a TV in the corner, with a communal shower and toilet in the corridor," he describes. "I sat on the bed and cried. Questions of: 'Who am I? Why am I in this position? ' There was no way the public watching me as Patrick every other night were aware that was what was happening."
The celebrated entertainer, set to mark his 85th anniversary later this month, isn't easily knocked down. Drawing from the well of resilience forged during his early childhood in Trinidad, he managed to navigate through life's most challenging moments.
He reflects: "There is something in me from childhood that has said, 'I will survive', like Gloria Gaynor said in the song," and continues, "Regardless of how difficult things are, regardless of how little I have, I will survive. I came from a background where I had very little, so when I had absolutely nothing even at the height of fame I had that resilience, that will to survive."
And while he never fully disclosed the extent of his struggles to his grown children, Darren, now 52, and Sheona, aged 48, he believes in the support system around him rather than medical intervention, saying, "I know today, people will go to a psychiatrist, seek help, and maybe I should have done, but I was getting it with the people that I had around me."
Reflecting on his journey and choices made along the way, he declares contentedly: "I am where I am today because of decisions I made over the years. Am I happy with where I am today? Yes, I'm extremely happy. [So] maybe someone, the old man up there, is looking after me."
He credits his first wife, Lorna Ross, whom he married in 1968 and separated from in the early '90s, for providing support during tough times by arranging for him to stay in a friend's house. He gratefully adds, "Bless her," acknowledging, "We are still extremely good friends. It didn't take me out of what I was experiencing, but it cushioned a lot."
Ten years on from his darkest days, the celebrity is now thriving in Reading where he's surrounded by "fantastic" neighbours. His motto: "Never give up," a sentiment echoed through his creation of the Rudolph Walker Foundation in 2009 aimed at empowering youths via performing arts, as he believes strongly that "One of the things that always sticks with me is where there's life, there's hope."
Growing up in Trinidad, Rudolph had a tough time with his mother, enduring physical punishment until he played dead to end it. He even recalls brushing off an inappropriate advance from a neighbour.
The journey to Britain was no less traumatic; aboard the Oranje Nassau in 1960, Rudolph found black passengers relegated to the lower decks.
Rudolph encountered blatant racism upon arrival in London, with housing adverts explicitly rejecting Black and Irish people. Shockingly, a girlfriend once declared to him, "If there is war between Blacks and whites, I'll fight for the whites".
As Bill Reynolds in the sitcom Love Thy Neighbour, Rudolph became widely recognized, although the show now draws criticism for its take on 1970s race relations. He doesn't shy away from acknowledging how few chances were available for Black actors, stating: "There was definite prejudice, sometimes even from people who were trying to be helpful."
Rudolph, a familiar face on EastEnders since 2001, acknowledges the progress in diversity on television but believes there's more to be done. He comments: "Yes, we're seeing more actors and newscasters of Afro-Caribbean descent on TV. But how much can one measure that, because the population is far greater now? ".
He points out that significant changes are yet to come in influential positions: "Where the changes are still a long, long way off is in the area of decision making and this right across the board, not just in my industry."
Despite the challenges, Rudolph remains active and upbeat about his pursuits: "I feel alright," he chuckles. "I still try and get on the tennis court whenever I can. I played a charity cricket match last week with Chris Tarrant I think they were surprised I was able to get three overs. I surprised myself actually! For now, I want to carry on my work with the Rudolph Walker Foundation, and take it to Africa and the Caribbean."
Having also starred in notable shows like The Thin Blue Line and Black Silk, and worked with Hollywood legends such as Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, and John Goodman, Rudolph was honoured with a CBE for his contributions to drama and charity in 2020.
In his personal life, Rudolph married Evangeline Vincent, a retired headmistress, in 2016. Her recent passing is a topic he finds too painful to discuss.
Reflecting on his journey from Trinidad, he shares: "When I set sail from Trinidad, I wouldn't have imagined that I'd be where I am today," adding, "I've done what I felt happy doing, to the best of my ability. I want my children and grandchildren to be proud."
