Michael Keating, the British actor best known to millions of TV fans for his roles in EastEnders and the cult sci-fi series Blake’s 7, has died. He was 79.
Keating’s agent, Dan Ireson, confirmed the sad news Thursday, May 21, saying the actor had “passed away recently.” No further details about his cause of death were immediately released.
The veteran performer leaves behind a long career that stretched across decades, from classic British dramas to one of the BBC’s most beloved soap operas.
Keating was born in Edmonton, England, and began building his career in the late 1960s and 1970s.
Before becoming a familiar name to sci-fi fans, he appeared in a string of television shows, including Special Branch, Merry-Go-Round, Omnibus, The Dragon’s Opponent and even the iconic Doctor Who.
But his breakout moment came in 1978, when he landed a major role in Blake’s 7, the BBC space drama about rebels fighting against a brutal totalitarian regime that had taken control of Earth.
Keating played Vila Restal, a quick-witted petty thief with a sharp tongue and a knack for survival. The role made him a fan favorite, and he became the only cast member to appear in all 52 episodes of the series.
While Blake’s 7 made Keating a cult TV legend, many viewers later came to know him from EastEnders.
Keating played Reverend George Stevens on the long-running BBC soap from 2005 to 2017.
His character served as the vicar in Walford, often appearing during some of the show’s biggest and most emotional moments. Reverend Stevens presided over christenings, weddings and funerals, putting Keating at the center of many dramatic storylines over the years.
In total, he appeared in 54 episodes of the soap.
Keating never left Blake’s 7 behind.
Decades after the original series ended, he returned to the role of Vila Restal for several audio productions, including The Liberator Chronicles, The Classic Adventures and The Worlds of Blake’s 7.
His work behind the microphone introduced him to a new generation of fans while giving longtime viewers another chance to hear one of the show’s most beloved characters.
Peter Anghelides, an audio producer for Blake’s 7, remembered Keating as a joy to work with.
“I would sit at the back of the Audio Sorcery control room hooting with laughter at his comic timing in our recordings,” Anghelides said in a statement released by Big Finish Productions.
He also shared a sweet memory of Keating joking about naming a fictional planet after TV director and producer Vere Lorrimer — an idea Anghelides later worked into a script, much to Keating’s delight.
“What a joy it was to work with Michael,” Anghelides added. “His cheery presence on studio days was always most welcome.”
Keating’s death marks the loss of a familiar face from British television history.
To sci-fi fans, he was the unforgettable Vila Restal — the thief who somehow always survived.
To soap viewers, he was the calm and steady Reverend George Stevens, guiding Walford residents through their most emotional milestones.
And to the actors, writers and producers who worked alongside him, he was remembered as warm, funny and full of life.
Michael Keating was 79.
