Beloved actor Ray Brooks, who captured hearts on both EastEnders and Coronation Street, has left a generous £1.5 million legacy to his two surviving sons following his peaceful passing at the age of 86.
Ray, best remembered as the voice behind the classic 1970s children’s series Mr Benn, passed away on August 9, 2025, after a short illness. His final years were marked by dementia, yet his family says he remained surrounded by love and warmth until the very end.
The Grant of Probate, released this week, revealed that Ray’s estate was worth £1,583,531, with the bulk left to his sons, Will and Tom Brooks. Sadly, his daughter Emma, who passed away in 2023, and his wife Sadie, who died in 2021, predeceased him. Ray had originally written his will back in 2012, naming his wife and sons as executors and trustees.
Ray’s career spanned five decades, with memorable roles from the gripping BBC drama Cathy Come Home in the 1960s to the prime-time series Big Deal in the 1980s, where he played the gambler Robbie Box. Fans also fondly recall his soap stints: Coronation Street’s Norman Phillips in 1964, and EastEnders’ Joe Macer in 2005–2007, whose dramatic storyline ended in tragedy after confessing to his wife’s murder.
Yet off-screen, Ray’s passions were far from the cameras. His sons described their father as a man devoted to family, Fulham Football Club, and his beloved hometown of Brighton. They recalled how Ray delighted in the enduring affection for Mr Benn, with fans still asking him to say the catchphrase “as if by magic!” decades later, even though only 13 episodes were ever made.
In candid reflections, Ray once admitted he never chased fame, humbly saying: “I was naive… I thought casting directors would come to me. But even when work came, the films often didn’t happen because of funding.” He added with characteristic modesty that he never saw himself as glamorous, acknowledging the tough competition of his era, alongside stars like David Hemmings and Terence Stamp.
Ray Brooks may have left the spotlight behind in his later years, but his legacy—on screen and in life—remains unforgettable. His sons now carry forward not only his £1.5 million estate but the memory of a devoted father and a quietly legendary actor.
📸 Ray with his sons Will and Tom in 1987 – a snapshot of a life filled with love, family, and quiet triumphs.
