Ray Brooks, Mr Benn Narrator And EastEnders Vet, Dead At 86

Ray Brooks, a British actor known narrating Mr Benn and starring in EastEnders and Taxi!, has died. He was 86.

The news of Brooks' death was confirmed by his family, who told BBC that the actor died on Saturday in his home after a brief illness.

Brooks narrated the short-lived animated children's series Mr Benn between 1971 and 1972. In a statement to BBC, Brooks' children said that their father considered the role his most popular, "with people continually asking him to say the catchphrase 'as if by magic!'". Though only 13 episodes were ever made, Brooks' sons said "they were repeated twice a year for 21 years."

Brooks got his start in the 1960s, appearing in such miniseries as Julius Caesar and The Secret Kingdom. From 1963-1964, he played Terry Mills opposite Sidney James in the BBC dramedy Taxi!, and Norman Phillips in the BBC soap Coronation Street.

He went on to star in Big Deal as Robby Box, between 1984 and 1986, and Running Wild as Max Wild, between 1987 and 1989. Later in his career, he joined EastEnders as Joe Macer.

Brooks' other TV credits include Two Thousand Acres of Sky, Growing Pains, The Pickwick Papers, Death of an Expert Witness, Two People and Jackanory. On the film side, Brooks' credits include The Knack... and How to Get It, House of Whipcord, Assassin, Carry on Aboard, The Last Grenade and Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D.