The veteran actor was one of the original cast members of the BBC soap and appeared from 1985 to 1996. He died late on Saturday night after his health had been deteriorating for some time. A statement from his family said: “The family of actor Bill Treacher are saddened to announce that Bill passed away late on Saturday night, November 5, 2022. “He was 92 years old and his health had been declining for some time. He was dearly loved by his wife Kate, son Jamie and daughter Sophie. “Bill was a brilliant actor and a wonderful husband and father, as well as a very good person. He will be greatly missed. “The family respectfully requests privacy at this time.” Treacher was married to Australian actress Katherine Kessey, with whom he shared two children, and they were long-time Suffolk residents. In 2015, he said he suffered from ataxia, a disorder that can affect coordination, balance and speech. Treacher appeared in EastEnders until 1996, when his troubled character was in prison for a crime he did not commit. After receiving a blow to his head during a violent seizure, Arthur was released but later suffered a brain haemorrhage in his beloved apartment. He died in hospital, leaving the Fowler family devastated. After his character was killed off, Treacher had roles in The Bill and Casualty and films such as The Musketeer (2001), Tale Of The Mummy (1998) and George And The Dragon (2004). An EastEnders spokesman said: “It is with great sadness that we have learned of the death of Bill Treacher. “As one of our original cast members, Bill created a much-loved character in Arthur Fowler and, along with Wendy Richard, created an iconic family in the Fowlers that remain at the heart of the show. “Bill left EastEnders in 1996, so it’s a real testament to both him and the character he created in Arthur that he’s still so fondly thought of. “Bill will always be remembered for his charm, sense of humor – with a smile that lit up the room – and most importantly as a family man who was devoted to his wife and children. Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you to the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. “Bill will forever be held with great affection by everyone at EastEnders and everyone who loved watching him. Rest in peace Bill and thanks for the memories.” The show’s executive producer, Chris Clenshaw, said: “Like so many, I grew up watching EastEnders starring the beloved Arthur Fowler, one of Walford’s originals who can still be described as the true heart of the Square. “To this day, Arthur Fowler is still so fondly remembered by the public and that is because of the character Bill created and why the Fowler name is still very much alive in Albert Square, as are the wonderful memories of those who worked. with Bill. “We send all our love and thoughts to Bill’s wife and family.” Gillian Taylforth, who played Kathy Beale in EastEnders, said: “I have so many happy memories of Bill, we were actually sharing stories of him at work the other day, how he always had a twinkle in his eye, usually before. he made us laugh during the scenes. Letitia Dean, another original cast member who played Sharon Watts, said: “Bill really was the life and soul of the set, he was an absolute joy to be around and always had a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye ». Todd Carty, who played the Fowlers’ eldest son Mark, said: “I’m so sorry to hear about Bill’s passing, I really enjoyed working with him. He was not only an amazing actor but a kind and sincere person. “My thoughts are with his family at this time. He will be sadly missed, I will never forget him. Rest in Peace.”
