Rudolph Walker is one of EastEnders‘ longest running stars, after joining the soap back in 2001 as Patrick Trueman.
The character has been through it all on the show, from reuniting with three sons, marrying his childhood sweetheart Sheree and then getting back with his ex-wife Yolande.
In 2018, he received the British Soap Award for Outstanding Achievement for all of his years on the show.
However, he has had his struggles in life, as he previously revealed he was secretly homeless while appearing in his long-running role on the soap.
Rudolph admitted that he was leading a ‘double life’, after a divorce in his 70s left him ‘penniless’.
Rudolph Walker is one of EastEnders’ longest running stars after joining the soap back in 2001 as Patrick Trueman (pictured in 2022)
The character has been through it all on the show, from reuniting with three sons, marrying his childhood sweetheart Sheree and then getting back with his ex-wife Yolande
But after overcoming two divorces, Rudolph found love again with Evangeline Vincent, and the couple are still together to this day.
takes a look back at how the Eastenders legend overcame two divorces to find love and soap success after ditching his life in Trinidad.
Relocating to the UK
Rudolph was born on September 28 1939, making him 84 years old. He is originally from San Juan in Trinidad and Tobago (pictured in 2009)
Rudolph was born on September 28 1939, making him 84 years old. He is originally from San Juan in Trinidad and Tobago.
He began acting at the age of eight and went on to join Derek Walcott’s Trinidad Theatre Workshop as their youngest member.
In 1960, he decided to move abroad to explore other opportunities and further his career in acting.
Rudolph initially wanted to go to the United States, but he was advised to head to Britain instead by actor Errol John.
The soap star told The Guardian: ‘I left Trinidad when I was 20. I had been planning to go to America, where I had more family and more connections, but Errol John convinced me to come to the UK. John was in Trinidad, doing a play.’
He added: ‘I set up an appointment to meet him. He said he liked what he saw in me, and encouraged me to go to the UK, where the training was far superior.’
Landing his big roles
Rudolph has starred in Love Thy Neighbour (seen), The Thin Blue Line, Ali G Indahouse, Doctor Who and Empire Road (Nina Baden-Semper, Jack Smethurst, Rudolph, and Kate Williams pictured in 1973)
Rudolph joined the cast of EastEnders in 2001 as Patrick Trueman and since then he has also starred in the internet spin-off series Eastenders: E20 (pictured in 2001)
One of Rudolph’s earliest television roles was as a policeman in The Wednesday play, and he also starred in Love Thy Neighbour, The Thin Blue Line, Ali G Indahouse, Doctor Who and Empire Road.
The actor also worked on the show On the Buses and appeared in the first episode of Mr. Bean as The Examiner in 1990.
Rudolph joined the cast of EastEnders in 2001 as Patrick Trueman and since then he has also starred in the internet spin-off series EastEnders: E20.
Outside of the BBC soap, he portrayed the grandfather in both seasons of the sitcom The Crouches, which follows the life of a dysfunctional family in Walworth, South-East London.
He has also acted in several movies including 10 Rillington Place, King Ralph and Let Him Have It.
Rudolph has an extensive career on stage too, as he previously starred in the first production of Mustapha Matura’s Play Mas at the Royal Court Theatre in 1974, Othello, The Tempest and Pericles, and the Prince of Tyre.
Not many people know, but Rudolph also voiced the narrator in the opening and closing sequences of Teletubbies for the American version as well as voicing for some of the British versions.
Marital woes
Rudolph was married to Lorna Ross in 1968. They welcomed two children together, before going their separate ways. He then went on to tie the knot with Dounne Alexander (seen) in 1998 (pictured in 2010)
However, the pair later divorced, with Rudolph finding love again with Evangeline Vincent, and the pair wed in 2016 (Rudolph pictured with Dounne in 2018)
Rudolph was married to Lorna Ross in 1968. They welcomed two children together, daughter Sheona, 48, and son Darren, 52, before going their separate ways.
The actor went on to tie the knot with Dounne Alexander in August 1998.
Dounne is the founder of Gramma’s, a collection of herbal pepper sauces, which has been sold in stores such as Harrods and Fortnum and Mason.
She was previously awarded an MBE due to her work with the Joining Hands In Health campaign.
However, Rudolph and Dounne later divorced.
The EastEnders legend then found love again with Evangeline Vincent and the pair got married in 2016, with the couple still together to this day.
Becoming homesless
This month, Rudolph revealed he was secretly homeless while he starred as Patrick on Eastenders, as the legal costs of his second divorce took its toll and he was left with ‘only a car to his name’ (pictured in 2023)
This month, Rudolph revealed he was secretly homeless while he starred as Patrick on EastEnders.
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EastEnders icon Rudolph Walker, 84, reveals he was secretly homeless while starring as Patrick Trueman
The actor admitted to leading a ‘double life’ after a divorce in his 70s left him ‘penniless’.
He recalled ‘crying’ on the way to the BBC’s Elstree studios as he kept his struggle with ‘pain and loneliness from his co-stars.
The legal costs of his second divorce from Dounne took its toll and he was left with ‘only a car to his name.’
In an interview with The Mirror, he explained: ‘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.’
‘Some days on my way to the studio, I would pull up at the side of the road, have a cry. I suppose it was a sort of double life.’
‘Questions of: “Who am I? Why am I in this position?” There was no way the public watching me as Patrick every other night were aware that was what was happening.’
Diane Parish, who plays Denise Fox, was one of the only cast members who could see past his happy façade, but despite her questions, he never revealed what he was going through.
He hasn’t even explained the height of his financial difficulties to his children Darren and Sheona.
Releasing his new memoir
Rudolph’s new memoir, Walking With Dignity, tells of all the trials and tribulations the actor has gone through as well as the highlights of his 60-year career so far
Rudolph’s new memoir, Walking With Dignity, tells of all the trials and tribulations the actor has gone through as well as the highlights of his 60-year career so far.
Rudolph took to X, formerly Twitter, to announce the release date of his autobiography, he wrote: ‘At last!! My Autobiography ‘Walking With Dignity’ is out 26 Sept.’
‘You can preorder on https://amzn.eu/d/cWyoDGT I hope you enjoy. Do spread the word #autobiography #mylife #actorslife #FamilyFirst.’
Launching the Rudolph Walker Foundation
Rudolph’s services to drama and charity resulted in him being appointed a CBE in the 2020 New Years Honours List (pictured in 2021)
In 2010, to mark his 70th birthday, Rudolph launched the Rudolph Walker Foundation to help disadvantaged youths start their careers in the entertainment industry.
The foundation includes an inter-school Drama Award competed for by schools across London.
In addition, Rudolph Walker’s Role Model Award is presented to outstanding students who have contributed something special.
Such as demonstrating positive leadership, being a good influence to their peers and others, and acting as a role model within the school.