All the soap stars we lost in 2022 - EastEnders legend to tragically young

This year we said to goodbye to some greats

Sadly, we have had to bid goodbye to a number of great soap opera stalwarts this year, including June Brown from EastEnders and Andy Devine from Emmerdale. Therefore, it seems only fitting to honor the adored performers in a gone but never forgotten list as the year comes to a conclusion.

Recently, June’s Dot Cotton character was honored on Albert Square in a homage that touched people’s hearts but left the impression that the actors weren’t really acting all that much. It appeared that Adam Woodyatt was bidding June farewell in the same way that Ian Beale was bidding his old friend farewell when he said his final goodbye to Dot.

Here is a list of all the greats who tragically passed away in 2022.

Andy Devine, who played Shadrach Dingle in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale, passed away in January. The actor, whose real name is Peter Devine, took up the role intermittently starting in 2000 and made his final appearance in July 2010, when his character was tragically killed off in a plot about alcohol misuse.

Joseph Wandera, a former Coronation Street performer, passed away at age 27 after “getting unwell” in Costa Rica.

Joseph suffered a seizure while on vacation in January of this year, according to the results of an inquest into his death.

Anna Karen

Fans of EastEnders were shocked to find that 85-year-old soap icon Anna Karen passed away in a horrific house fire in February. The actress from the 1970s, who rose to popularity playing Olive in the TV series On The Buses, perished in a fire at her Ilford, East London, home.

The news is incredibly distressing, according to Shane Collins, Anna’s representative.

But I’m glad that Anna will now be with her much loved husband Terry Duggan and her best friend Barbara (Windsor).

Jennifer Wilson

At the age of 89, Jennifer Wilson, best known for her work on the television shows Corrie, Casualty, and Doctors, passed away at her French home. In March, a close family friend broke the news but made no mention of the cause of death. After playing Mrs. Bradbury in Corrie and Lily Compton in Casualty, Wilson became well-known.

Lynda Baron

Lynda Baron, an EastEnders actor who passed away in March at the age of 82, was announced to her admirers in a statement from her agent. Baron played Nurse Gladys Emmanuel in the popular show Open All Hours, which aired for four seasons beginning in 1976 and starring Sir David Jason, Ronnie Barker, and others.

Maggie Fox

The actress, well known for her work on and Shameless, passed away unexpectedly in March after a “sudden accident.” Fox had four different Corrie characters over the course of her career, but Ruth Audsley in 2001 is the one for whom she is best remembered.

June Brown

At the ripe old age of 95, actress June Brown passed away in April. For more than three decades, she portrayed the beloved character Dot Cotton on EastEnders. When EastEnders was first produced in 1985, Brown had his debut appearance in the show.

She remained until 1993 and then came back to reprise the role from 1997 to 2020. She had died “quite peacefully” at home, according to her family, who said they were “very devastated” to share the news.

Melanie Clark Pullen

Less than a year after being told she had brain cancer, actress Melanie Clark Pullen, well known for her work on EastEnders, passed away at age 46. From 1997 to 1999, the Irish actress portrayed Pauline Fowler’s great-niece Mary Flaherty on the enduring BBC serial opera.

James Caroll

James Caroll, who appeared in the soap operas Coronation Street and Brookside, is most remembered for his role as Brian “Bumper” Humphreys, which he played from 1988 to 1991 on the Channel 4 soap before it ended in 2003.

In June of last year, the late actor passed away.

Sam Gannon

Sam Gannon, a former Emmerdale actor, passed away in August at the age of 31 while traveling in the US.

The actor gained notoriety in 2019 for his portrayal of Kev on the ITV soap opera.

Ashvin Luximon

In July, 38-year-old Ashvin Luximon passed away abruptly from an aneurysm. The actor is best known for his time spent as Asif Malik on EastEnders from 1999 to 2003. Luximon featured in 146 episodes in all.

Duggie Brown

Ted Spears was played by Coronation Street actor Duggie Brown at the beginning of the year. Sadly, he died in August at the age of 82.

Prior to playing Ted, Duggie played two previous characters. He had an appearance in the ITV soap opera in the late 1990s as George Freeman, the proprietor of The Hour Glass pub, and in 2004 he played Bernie Cooper, the husband of Rita’s (Barbara Knox) friend Rula Romanoff.

Josephine Melville

The actor Josephine Melville, best known for her work on EastEnders, passed away in a theater backstage during a performance in October. She had been playing Aunt Maggie in Nottingham Playhouse’s performance of Nine Night.

She had roles in EastEnders, The Bill, Casualty, and other theater productions, where she played Kelvin Carpenter’s girlfriend Tessa Parker in 1985.

Bill Treacher

In EastEnders, Bill Treacher played Arthur Fowler. He passed away in November at the age of 92. The seasoned actor performed in the BBC soap from 1985 to 1996 and was a founding member of the ensemble.

After several years of deteriorating health, he passed away.