Michael Keating, known for his roles in “Doctor Who,” “Blake’s 7” and “EastEnders,” has died. He was 79 years old.
Mr. Keating passed away “peacefully at home” on Sunday, April 26, his agent Dan Eielson confirmed in a statement to Page Six on Friday.
Mr Ireson revealed that the British actor had been “battling dementia” before his death.
Keating was born on February 10, 1947 in Edmonton, Middlesex.
According to IMDb, Keating’s first acting role was in a 1969 episode of the British television series “Special Brunch.”
He had a notable role in the 1977 Doctor Who story The Sun Makers, set in the 15th season of the popular series, in which Tom Baker played the Fourth Doctor.
Keating also lent his voice to several Doctor Who audio projects produced by Big Finish.
In a statement about Keating’s death, Big Finish described Keating as “warm, cunning, honest about his limitations, and almost impossible not to love.”
Keating’s big break on television came in 1978 when he landed the lead role in “Blake’s 7,” playing master thief Villa Lestal.
This science fiction show, which aired on the BBC from 1978 to 1981, tells the story of a group of rebels fighting against an evil dictatorship that has taken over the Earth.
Keating reprized his role as “Blake 7” in several podcast series, also produced by Big Finish, in the 2010s and early 2020s.
Peter Angelides, the company’s “Break 7” producer, gushed in a statement that he was “a pleasure” to work with Keating over the years.
“His cheerful presence in the studio was always welcome. I sat in the back of Audio Sorcery’s control room and snickered at his comic timing during recordings,” he wrote.
Keating also notably appeared in episode 54 of the soap opera EastEnders as the Reverend George Stevens.
His other television credits include “The Play on One,” “Kinsey,” “Casualty” and “Midsomer Murders.”
