EastEnders has paid tribute to legendary actor Ray Brooks with a sweet nod to his time in Albert Square.
The beloved actor, who also narrated the classic 1970s children’s show Mr Benn, passed away after a short illness on Saturday.
Ray was one of the few actors who starred in both Coronation Street and EastEnders .
Now, the BBC soap has paid tribute to the actor after he played Joe Macer for two years until 2007.
EastEnders posted a photo of Ray on Instagram posing behind the famous Albert Square sign in the fictional suburb of Walford.
“We are deeply saddened to hear that Ray Brooks has passed away,” EastEnders captioned the post.
“Ray will always be remembered fondly by everyone that worked with him at EastEnders. “Our love and thoughts are with Ray’s family and friends.”
EastEnders fans flocked to the comments to also share their condolences for the huge loss.
“So sad love him great actor from big deal to Eastenders,” wrote one person.
Another added: “He was great as Joe Macer!”
And a third commented: “Lovely character he was.”
Ray’s family announced his death with his sons, Will and Tom, saying their dad thought he was best known for Mr Benn, “with people continually asking him to say the catchphrase ‘as if by magic!'”
They said in their statement to the BBC : “Although only 13 episodes were made, they were repeated twice a year for 21 years.”
His heartbroken kids explained their dad did not like the spotlight, adding: “His three true loves were family, Fulham FC and spending time in Brighton, where he was born.”
Ray’s career spanned five decades and saw him take on a number of roles that made him a familiar face and voice.
Ray played the male lead in the ground-breaking 1960s BBC drama Cathy Come Home.
The BBC television play about homelessness was voted the second-best British TV drama ever made in the BFI TV 100.
Ray played Norman Philips in the ITV soap in the 1960s, and arrived in Albert Square 40 years later to portray Joe Macer, who infamously murdered his wife Pauline Fowler.
Ray also appeared on The Pickwick Papers and racked up 30 episodes reading the stories to young viewers in Jackanory.
He also voiced thousands of adverts for companies including Guinness , Whiskas, Marmite and R Whites Lemonade.
Ray also appeared on TV shows in a number of roles including Danger Man, Dixon of Dock Green, Emergency-Ward 10, The Avengers, Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) and Z Cars.
He also had a number of film successes, including in the 1965 film The Knack… and How to Get It, which won the Palme D’Or at the Cannes Film Festival .
Ray played Georgio, the waiter in the crumbling hotel, in Carry On Abroad in 1972, and also appeared in the 1966 Dr Who movie Daleks’ Invasion Earth: 2150 A.D.
The talented actor even enjoyed appearances in the theatre .
