EastEnders is home to some massive family dynasties – but none are more famous than the Beale clan.
When the soap first hit our screens in 1985, the Beales were at the centre of all the drama.
They have been part of some explosive and shocking storylines over the years, including rape, homelessness, kidnapping and assassination.
And no other family has seen quite as much heartache as the Beales – with Ian losing two children – and last week one former actress admitted she was “glad” to see her character killed off.
The Beales currently have dominance over Albert Square, with Ian owning the restaurant, cafe, chippy, pub and fruit and veg stall, while mum Kathy runs her own gay bar.
The Beale kids are notorious for their ever-changing faces, with actors going through a revolving door and changing every few years.
But what happened to the Beale family cast members once they left the soap?
Anna Wing – Lou Beale
Actress Anna Wing who played Lou Beale (Image: FilmMagic)
Lou Beale was the head of the Beale family – with the formidable mother always keeping kids Pauline and Pete in check.
After three years on the soap, Anna, who was 70 when EastEnders began, decided to leave – but later admitted she regretted the decision.
She went on to work on the stage and had roles on Casualty, Doctors and The Bill.
Anna also went on to appear in The Calcium Kid alongside Orlando Bloom in 2004 and 2007’s Son of Rambow.
The actress worked right up until her sad death in July 2013 at the impressive age of 98.
Peter Dean – Pete Beale
Peter Dean who played Pete Beale between 1985-1993 (Image: Planet Photos)
Leslie Grantham originally auditioned for the part of Pete Beale, but obviously went on to be Den Watts instead.
That meant the role of the Pete went to the mighty Peter Dean.
Peter Dean got the role of Pete Beale when Leslie Grantham, who had also auditioned for the part, was given Den Watts instead,
The cockney fruit and veg seller stood on the market from 1985 until May 1993.
Peter’s contract was reportedly terminated after irreconcilable differences with the show’s producers, who he slammed in an expose with The Sun.
His character was killed in a car crash off-screen in December that year.
Peter is now a practising Buddhist and has been a security guard and worked at a furniture yard.
He went on to make guest appearances in Bo’ Selecta and Little Britain and in 2018 he took part in BBC series, The Real Marigold Hotel.
Adam Woodyatt – Ian Beale
Adam Woodyatt is the longest-running cast member (Image: PA)
EastEnders’ longest serving cast member, Adam Woodyatt is the only star to have appeared continuously since the soap’s inception.
The Ken Barlow of Walford, Ian has been an ever-present in Albert Square and built up a business empire.
It’s not been an easy ride for Ian, who has been married six times, lost two children, was shot by a hitman hired by his ex and was left homeless.
His businesses are thriving, with Ian now owning a restaurant, the chip shop, the fruit and veg stall, the cafe and the Queen Vic – but he isn’t having any luck with the ladies after being knocked back by Sharon.
Adam has been rewarded for his efforts and won the Lifetime Achievement trophy at the British Soap Awards in 2013 after nearly 3,000 appearances on the show.
Last month, it was confirmed that Adam had split from wife Beverley Sharp after 22 years of marriage.
Melissa Suffield – Lucy Beale
Melissa Suffield has been with her partner for nine years (Image: Instagram)
Melissa played Lucy Beale from 2004 until 2010 during her wild child years as a gobby teenager.
She was axed by producers after six years after she allegedly ignored numerous warnings from bosses about her “unruly behaviour”, according to the Daily Star Sunday.
Speaking on her web page after her exit in August 2010, Melissa confessed: “I was a naughty girl outside of work, well that’s what they have sacked me for, pathetic!”
She added: “It was in the rules and I did have 3 warnings… I’m gutted. But it’s all my fault.”
After being replaced by Hetti Bywater, Melissa had a role in Casualty and starred in a musical about Marilyn Monroe in 2015.
Nine years after leaving EastEnders she got engaged to Robert Brendan, who she had been dating for nine years.
And in March this year they welcomed their first child, baby River Jefferson Carter-Robinson.
“What a perfect little human we appear to have made,” she wrote on Instagram alongside a sweet photo of their little boy.
“We could not be more obsessed with you.”
Hetti Bywater – Lucy Beale
Hetti was the last actress to play Lucy (Image: BBC)
Hetti took over from Melissa in 2012, but didn’t last long as Lucy was killed off two years later in a mysterious whodunnit that went on for a year.
Her last appearance as a soap regular was in April 2014, but she returned for the explosive live flashback episode where viewers discovered Lucy was murdered by her little brother Bobby.
After her soap exit, Hetti appeared in Death in Paradise in 2015 and Sky One drama series Delicious in 2016.
While in between acting jobs in April 2017, she was spotted pulling pints at a North London pub.
After leaving EastEnders Hetti appeared as a character called Jess Chambers in Death In Paradise in 2015.
Hetti left the soap in 2014 but returned for the live ep in 2015 (Image: Instagram)
The actress also starred in two episodes of the, which also starred Dawn French, Emilia Fox and Iain Glen and ran.
Last week, Hetti admitted she was “glad” that Lucy was killed off when someone commented on one of her Instagram snaps.
She agreed with one of his points, writing: “I’m glad Bobby killed Lucy too, I hated her.”
And in March this year, she hit out at pub-goers ignoring Boris Jonhson’s advice before lockdown.
“Walking past a pub with loads of people in. It’s a little bit distressing right now,” said Hetti during an Instagram video while wearing gloves and a mask.
She added: “I am staying secluded not for fear for myself but in the hope of keeping others safe.
“As we all should be trying to do. We need to protect the vulnerable.”
Thomas Law – Peter Beale
Former EastEnders star Thomas Law has left fans breathless with some topless snaps (Image: Thomas Law/Instagram)
Thomas is probably the most recognisable Peter Beale, having played Ian’s son from 2006 until 2010 during his teen years.
After leaving the soap he made his stage debut in Peter Pan, then went on to appear in Casualty and hit film The World’s End, playing a younger version of Simon Pegg’s character.
Thomas also starred in an advert for Lynx deodorant, revealing on Instagram: “Filmed this clip towards the end of last year with a fun, great working team out in Warsaw Poland!”.
In June this year, Thomas left EastEnders fans gobsmacked by showcasing a rippling muscular body on Instagram.
The actor transformed himself from a scrawny teen into a muscular adult, and credited ruthless workouts with a personal trainer for his new look.
Ben Hardy – Peter Beale
Ben played Archangel in X-Men: Apocalypse
Ben stepped into the shoes of Peter Beale in June 2013 and had some gritty storylines, including the death of his character’s twin sister.
The young actor made his last appearance in February 2015 in the live reveal episode.
After leaving the soap, Ben set his sights on Hollywood, but admitted it wasn’t too different to Albert Square.
He told the Sun: “LA is big, although Hollywood’s not as glamorous as I thought, it’s kind of grungy.
“It’s not too much of a leap from EastEnders in that sense.”
Ben made his film debut in massive blockbuster X: Men Apocalypse in 2017 as winged mutant Archangel.
He went on to star in another Bryan Singer-directed movie, Bohemian Rhapsody, as Queen star Roger Taylor.
He also appeared in Only the Brave, 6 Underground, and has roles in upcoming films Pixie and The Voyeurs.
Gillian Taylforth – Kathy Beale
Gillian’s character came back from the dead (Image: PA)
Gillian starred as Kathy in the very first episode of EastEnders way back in 1985.
Her character was at the centre of some dramatic storylines, including being raped by the evil James Willmott-Brown.
The actress left in 1998 but made a brief return a year later for Ross Kemp’s exit storyline.
Gillian was upset when her character was killed off-screen in a car-crash in South Africa in 2006.
During her spell away from EastEnders, Gillian played Jackie Pascoe-Webb in Footballers’ Wives and Sandy Roscoe in Hollyoaks.
As well as acting, Gillian was partnered with Anton du Beke on Strictly Come Dancing in 2008 and went into the Celebrity Big Brother house in January 2013.
But just like Dirty Den, Kathy shocked viewers by rising from the dead and returning to the soap in 2015.
Gillian still works on EastEnders – with Kathy owning running the cafe and owning her own gay bar.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
