United Kingdom – Ray Brooks, a versatile and much-loved figure of British stage and screen whose career spanned more than 50 years, has died at the age of 86 after a short illness, his family has confirmed.
Known to generations for his distinctive voice as the narrator of the classic 1970s children’s programme Mr Benn, Brooks also made his mark as the lead in Ken Loach’s groundbreaking 1966 drama Cathy Come Home, a television landmark that helped spotlight Britain’s housing crisis.
From Kitchen-Sink Drama to Cult Children’s TV
Born in Brighton, Brooks built an acting résumé in the 1960s and 1970s that reads like a who’s who of British television. He appeared in Danger Man, Dixon of Dock Green, The Avengers, Z Cars, Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased), and Emergency-Ward 10. On the big screen, he starred in the Palme d’Or-winning The Knack… and How to Get It (1965) and appeared in Daleks’ Invasion Earth: 2150 A.D. (1966) and Carry On Abroad (1972).
But it was his warm narration of Mr Benn that cemented his place in popular culture. Though only 13 episodes were made, the series was repeated on British television for over two decades. His sons, Will and Tom, fondly noted how often people approached him to recite the catchphrase “as if by magic,” a testament to the enduring charm of the show.
Primetime Success in the 1980s
Brooks enjoyed renewed fame in the 1980s with back-to-back primetime hits. In Big Deal, he played Robbie Box, a charismatic gambler trying to balance his passion for cards and racing with his home life. His portrayal made the character one of television’s most endearing working-class figures of the era.
He later teamed up again with co-star Sharon Duce in Running Wild, a sitcom about a former Teddy Boy navigating a mid-life crisis, and the BBC comedy Growing Pains, in which the duo played foster parents.
Stage Roles and Voice Work
Alongside television and film, Brooks had a successful stage career, appearing in Alan Ayckbourn’s Absent Friends with Richard Briers and Peter Bowles, and starring opposite Felicity Kendal in Tom Stoppard’s On the Razzle.
His distinctive voice became a staple of British broadcasting, narrating The Pickwick Papers, dozens of Jackanory episodes, and thousands of commercials for brands such as Guinness, Marmite, Whiskas, and R Whites Lemonade.
A Life Away from the Spotlight
Despite his public profile, Brooks preferred a private life, cherishing time with his family, supporting his beloved Fulham Football Club, and spending days by the seaside in his native Brighton. In the 1980s, he was among the prominent Fulham fans campaigning against a proposed merger with QPR, even wearing a “Save Fulham” badge during an appearance on Wogan.
Brooks’ later years were spent living with dementia, but his family said he died peacefully with loved ones at his bedside. He is survived by his sons, Will and Tom, and was predeceased by his daughter Emma, who died in 2003.
“His three true loves were family, Fulham, and Brighton,” his sons shared in their statement. “And, of course, the joy he brought to generations who heard his voice or watched his work.”
