EastEnders’ Patrick Trueman star hid ‘great pain’ from co-stars during homelessness
EastEnders icon Rudolph Walker has played Patrick Trueman since 2001 and has been on screens for almost 50 years
EastEnders devotees have been left heartbroken as Patrick Trueman recovers from a robbery committed by Oscar Branning (played by Pierre Moullier).
In recent episodes of the BBC soap, Oscar, in dire need of cash to pay off gang member Mike (Tai Hilferink), stole Patrick’s gambling winnings and knocked the older man over when confronted. Patrick was informed he would fully recover, but the incident has left him rattled and hesitant to return to his normal routine.
Despite this, he is also planning to marry Yolande (Angela Wynter). Will the pair manage to tie the knot? Patrick’s son Anthony Trueman (Nicholas Bailey) is also returning for the nuptials after a 20 year absence.
Patrick has been left shaken following a robbery at his house in EastEnders (Image: BBC)
Early life and real age
Rudolph Walker, one of EastEnders’ longest-serving stars and now 85 in real life, has been captivating TV viewers for decades with his portrayal of Patrick Trueman, reports Plymouth Live.
Although best known for this role, Rudolph has been acting nearly all his life, beginning at just eight years old in his native Trinidad and Tobago.
He relocated to the UK in 1960 and had established himself as an actor by the 1970s. He was among the first black actors to regularly appear on television screens.
Patrick and Yolande are set to get married in EastEnders (Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
Throughout his television career, he has worked with many renowned faces across various genres, taking on roles in dramas, including a 1969 appearance in Doctor Who, and comedies such as The Thin Blue Line, where he acted alongside Mr Bean star Rowan Atkinson.
He also featured in the divisive sitcom Love Thy Neighbour, which faced criticism for its approach to racial issues. The show was penned during an era of mounting prejudice and anti-immigration feeling.
Rudolph’s comic talents have spilled over into his EastEnders role too, with Patrick winning over viewers through his charisma and humour. The performer joined the Walford ensemble in 2001 and has remained a mainstay ever since.
Nina Baden-Semper, Jack Smethurst, Rudolph Walker, Kate Williams starred in the 1970s sitcom(Image: Studio Canal/REX/Shutterstock)
Homelessness
Yet the actor’s existence hasn’t always been so glamorous. Rudolph allegedly endured two years without money or a home but concealed his anguish from his EastEnders colleagues and offspring, reports The Mirror.
He confessed matters became so dire that he would frequently weep during his journey to the Elstree studios as he battled the “utter despair” of his “double life”.
Despite starring in one of the BBC’s flagship programmes, Rudolph was living from a suitcase and depending on mates’ generosity for somewhere to sleep.
Rudolph Walker experienced financial difficulty after a divorce (Image: Getty Images)
Throughout this period, his fellow cast members remained oblivious to the severity of his troubles, which had begun in the mid-2010s following his split from his second spouse, whom he had wed in 1998.
Court expenses had left him broke despite being in his 70s and having grafted for over 40 years. He was left with nothing except his motor.
Things became so dire that he would actually pray for late-night filming schedules, as it meant the BBC, which remained oblivious to his struggles, might provide accommodation in a hotel close to the set. He found himself “starting from scratch” in his 70s.
He told The Mirror in 2024: “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.”
Patrick Trueman has been keeping viewers entertained for years(Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
Nevertheless, he was resolute in concealing his ordeal from colleagues, maintaining his usual demeanour at work whilst portraying the cheerful Patrick.
“Some days on my way to the studio, I would pull up at the side of the road, have a cry,” he revealed. “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.”
The star refuses to be beaten, though. He credits the resilience he developed during his formative years in Trinidad with helping him survive the darkest period of his life.
Rudolph Walker with his CBE medal for services to drama and charity(Image: Getty Images)
In 2021, Rudolph received a CBE from King Charles, who was then the Prince of Wales.
CBE stands for Commander of the Order of the British Empire, and represents the most prestigious British Empire honour.
These accolades are bestowed upon individuals in recognition of the significant positive contribution they have made through their professional endeavours.
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday on BBC One and iPlayer
