EastEnders Eddie Royle star’s life after brutal soap exit including Emmerdale role
EastEnders' Eddie Royle was m.u.r.d.e.r.e.d in a dramatic 'whodunnit' storyline in 1991 but actor Michael Melia remains an iconic soap actor
Eddie Royale pictured only moments before he was stabbed to d.e.a.t.h (Image: BBC)
EastEnders fans adore a gripping “whodunnit” and the enigmatic demise of Eddie Royale had viewers glued to their screens back in 1991.
The Queen Vic publican arrived on the BBC One drama in the summer of 1990 after purchasing the establishment from Frank Butcher (Mike Reid), bringing his no-nonsense approach as a former police officer to Albert Square.
Indeed, Eddie couldn’t have been more different from previous landlords of The Vic, particularly Dirty Den Watts (Leslie Grantham). However, his confrontational manner meant the residents never took to him, and his time in Walford was tragically brief.
Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp) became his arch-enemy after the hardman gave him a beating for making advances towards his girlfriend, Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean). Eddie consistently managed to antagonise people, and eventually it proved fatal.
Actor Michael Melia as Eddie Royle in EastEnders(Image: BBC)
Eddie’s turbulent romance with Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) became even more complex when his father reacquainted him with former lover Eibhlin O’Donnell (Mary Conlon), reports OK!.
In September 1991, Eddie departed The Vic for a brief stroll to post correspondence, with his faithful dog Roly by his side, when a shadowy figure confronted him. Minutes later, he was m.u.r.d.e.r.e.d by stabbing and was found by neighbourhood busybody Dot Cotton (June Brown), leaving numerous potential perpetrators in the frame.
Clyde Tavernier (Steven Woodcock) was initially wrongly accused of Eddie’s k.i.l.l.i.n.g and jailed, but it later emerged that local criminal Nick Cotton (John Altman) was the true k.i.l.l.e.r. Nick notoriously stabbed Eddie during a botched robbery attempt.
Despite his arrest, Nick was famously acquitted at his 1993 trial due to insufficient evidence.
Eddie Royle’s reign was short lived as he was stabbed to d.e.a.t.h by Nick Cotton
So, what’s EastEnders
Now 80, Michael Melia, who portrayed Eddie Royle in EastEnders from 1990 to 1991, has enjoyed a successful acting career post-EastEnders.
After leaving the soap, Michael landed roles in a host of popular TV series, including Casualty and The Detectives, before securing the part of DI Frank Dagley in Dangerfield from 1996 to 1997.
He then took on the role of Jerry Block in Sky One’s drama Dream Team, where he remained from 1998 until 2002.
In 2007, Michael made a brief appearance in Emmerdale as businessman Colin MacFarlane. His character was introduced at a posh hotel where he had a one-night stand with Chas Dingle (played by Lucy Pargeter).
Chas Dingle was shocked after the businessman died overnight in Emmerdale (Image: ITV)
However, in a shocking turn of events, Colin was found d.e.a.d the following morning. In a surprising twist, Colin’s wife Brenda (Judy Holt) arrived in the Dales and bizarrely thanked Chas for k.i.l.l.i.n.g her cheating husband, despite him dying of natural causes.
Brenda also found herself embroiled in Dingle drama when a planned heist at her nightclub went awry, leading to her disappearance after just four episodes.
Throughout his career, Michael has also starred in The Bill, Doctors, Coronation Street, and New Tricks, among other shows.
Most recently, Michael played Grandad in the children’s sitcom Dani’s House from 2010 to 2012. It seems he has since retired from acting.
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday on BBC One and iPlayer
