Mike Reid: Actor, Chef, or DJ? Life, Death, and Family
If you search for Mike Reid, you might find a Cockney comedian who played Frank Butcher on EastEnders, a modern chef running restaurants in Australia, or a radio DJ from the 1980s — three different people. This article separates the actor from the living chef, clears up the mistaken identity with DJ Mike Read, and answers common questions about his family, burial, and career.
Born: 19 January 1940, Hackney, London, England ·
Died: 29 July 2007, Costa del Sol, Spain (heart attack) ·
Known for: Frank Butcher on ‘EastEnders’ (1989–2000) ·
Profession: Comedian, actor, author, TV presenter ·
Marriages: Two (Doreen Ronan, Shirley Ann King) ·
Children: 3 (including Joseph Lister Reid)
Quick snapshot
- Mike Reid (actor) died 29 July 2007 of a heart attack (Evening Standard)
- He married Doreen Ronan in 1961 and Shirley Ann King in 1979 (Wikipedia)
- He had three children (Evening Standard)
- Buried at St Mary’s Church, Little Easton, Essex (Evening Standard)
- Exact net worth of the actor is not publicly verifiable (NNDB)
- Number of Michelin stars held by chef Mike Reid is ambiguous; some sources confuse him with other chefs (Wikipedia disambiguation)
- Chef Mike Reid continues TV appearances and restaurant businesses (Instagram)
- No new activity from the actor (deceased) (Evening Standard)
Eight key biographical facts, one pattern: the actor’s life was well-documented, while the chef’s professional details remain scattered.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Michael Reid |
| Occupation | Comedian, actor, author, TV presenter |
| Born | 19 January 1940, Hackney, London |
| Died | 29 July 2007, Costa del Sol, Spain |
| Cause of death | Heart attack |
| Spouse(s) | Doreen Ronan (m. 1961, div.), Shirley Ann King (m. 1979–2007) |
| Children | 3 (Joseph, Julie, Paul) |
| Known for | Frank Butcher on EastEnders (1989–2000) |
| Burial | St Mary’s Church, Little Easton, Essex |
Who Was Mike Reid?
Mike Reid the actor and comedian
- Born Michael Reid on 19 January 1940 in Hackney, London (Wikidata).
- He began stand-up comedy in the early 1960s and later became a household name playing Frank Butcher on EastEnders from 1989 to 2000 (The Telegraph (UK obituary)).
- He also hosted the children’s game show Runaround (Wikipedia).
Mike Reid the chef
- Mike Reid (chef) is a contemporary British chef based in London and Melbourne, Australia (Instagram).
- He owns Taste Test restaurant in Melbourne and appears on TV shows such as Good Chef Bad Chef and Five Star Chef.
- He is not the same person as the late actor. The two share only the name.
Readers searching for “Mike Reid actor” should stop looking for current restaurants: the chef is a separate, living public figure whose career is still unfolding.
What Happened to Mike Reid?
Cause of death
- Mike Reid (actor) died of a heart attack at his home in Marbella, Spain, on 29 July 2007 (Mirror (UK tabloid)).
- He was 67 years old (The Telegraph).
- According to contemporary reports, he had received a clean bill of health shortly before his death, despite being a heavy smoker (Wikipedia).
Where and when he died
- He died at his home on the Costa del Sol, Spain.
- His body was returned to England and buried at St Mary’s Church, Little Easton, Essex (Evening Standard).
Who Was Mike Reid’s First Wife?
Doreen Ronan
- Reid’s first wife was Doreen Ronan. They married in 1961 and divorced in the 1970s (Wikipedia).
- With Doreen he had a son, Joseph Lister Reid (who died at five days old), and a daughter, Julie (The Telegraph).
Shirley Ann King
- Reid married Shirley Ann King in 1979 and remained with her until his death (Wikipedia).
- They had a son, Paul Reid (Evening Standard).
The implication: his family life was marked by both joy and profound tragedy — the loss of his first son, and later the suicide of his youngest son Mark, who died after a devastating incident (Herald Scotland).
How Many Children Did Mike Reid Have?
Children with Doreen Ronan
- Joseph Lister Reid (died at five days old) and Julie Reid (The Telegraph).
Children with Shirley Ann King
- Paul Reid and Mark Reid (Mark died by suicide in 2003 at age 27) (Herald Scotland).
What this means: Reid fathered three surviving children, but his family experienced a staggering number of early deaths — a pattern that the obituaries frame as a backdrop to his public joviality.
What Restaurants Does Mike Reid Own?
Mike Reid chef restaurants
- Chef Mike Reid owns Taste Test restaurant in Melbourne, Australia (Instagram).
- He is a TV chef on Good Chef Bad Chef and Five Star Chef, and is not associated with the late actor.
Mike Reed chef (possible confusion)
- Some online searches confuse Mike Reid with other chefs named Mike Reed or Michelin-starred figures. There is no verifiable evidence that Mike Reid (chef) holds multiple Michelin stars.
The chef’s Michelin credentials are unsubstantiated; most claims originate from social media or promotional content, not from official Michelin guides.
Where Is Mike Reid Buried?
Burial details
- Mike Reid’s ashes were interred at St Mary’s Church, Little Easton, Essex, after a funeral attended by fellow EastEnders stars (Evening Standard).
- A YouTube video of the funeral confirms the service location (YouTube).
Why this matters: fans who wish to pay respects can visit the churchyard in Little Easton, a small village in the Essex countryside.
What Does Mike Reid Do Now?
Living chef Mike Reid
- Chef Mike Reid continues to appear on television and run his restaurant in Melbourne. He is active on social media as of 2025 (Instagram).
Posthumous references to actor
- Mike Reid (actor) died in 2007; no new activity exists. Any current “Mike Reid” news refers to the chef or to DJ Mike Read (born 1947), who is a separate person entirely.
Timeline of Mike Reid’s Life
- 19 Jan 1940: Born Michael Reid in Hackney, London (Wikidata)
- Early 1960s: Began stand-up comedy career (The Telegraph)
- 1961: Married first wife Doreen Ronan (Wikipedia)
- 1970s: Divorced Doreen Ronan (Wikipedia)
- 1979: Married Shirley Ann King (Wikipedia)
- 1989: Joined EastEnders as Frank Butcher (The Telegraph)
- 2000: Left EastEnders (final episode aired 2 November 2000) (Wikipedia)
- 29 Jul 2007: Died of heart attack in Marbella, Spain (Mirror)
What We Know and What Remains Unclear
Confirmed facts
- Mike Reid (actor) died 29 July 2007 of a heart attack (Mirror).
- He married Doreen Ronan in 1961 and Shirley Ann King in 1979 (Wikipedia).
- He had three children: Joseph, Julie, and Paul (The Telegraph).
- He is buried at St Mary’s Church, Little Easton, Essex (Evening Standard).
- Mike Reid (chef) is alive and owns restaurants in Australia (Instagram).
What’s unclear
- Exact net worth of Mike Reid (actor) is not publicly verifiable (NNDB).
- Number of Michelin stars held by chef Mike Reid is ambiguous; some sources confuse him with other chefs (Wikipedia disambiguation).
Key Perspectives
“Mike Reid, who has died aged 67, was best known for playing Frank Butcher in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, but he was also a successful stand-up comedian and television presenter.”
The Telegraph (UK obituary)
“The actor, who played Frank Butcher in the BBC soap, died of a massive heart attack at his home in Spain.”
Mirror (UK tabloid)
“Reid’s son Mark, 27, set himself alight and died in hospital after a row with his mother about killing a friend.”
For the reader trying to find out what happened to Mike Reid, the distinction is clear: if you’re looking for the actor, he died in 2007 and is buried in Essex. If you’re looking for the chef, he’s still cooking on TV. The choice is simply a matter of which Mike Reid you meant.
digitalspy.com, imdb.com, imdb.com, dailystar.co.uk, australianbrief.org
Frequently asked questions
Did Mike Reid have any other jobs before acting?
Yes, he worked as a stand-up comedian and also hosted the children’s game show Runaround (Wikipedia).
How many EastEnders episodes did Mike Reid appear in?
He appeared in over 400 episodes as Frank Butcher between 1989 and 2000 (IMDb).
What is Mike Reid chef’s signature dish?
Chef Mike Reid is known for modern British cuisine; his signature dishes include slow-cooked lamb and seasonal British ingredients (Instagram).
Did Mike Reid actor ever win any awards?
He was nominated for several soap awards but did not win major national acting prizes (Wikipedia).
Where did Mike Reid actor perform stand-up comedy?
He performed regularly in London working men’s clubs and later on television variety shows (The Telegraph).
Is Mike Reid chef related to Mike Reid actor?
No, they are not related. They share a name but have no known family connection.
What other TV shows did Mike Reid actor appear on?
Besides EastEnders, he appeared in The Bill, Casualty, and Minder among others (IMDb).
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