EastEnders legend Nicholas Ball dead aged 78 as tributes pour in for Terry Bates star
Nicholas Ball dead aged 78
BBC
EastEnders star Nicholas Ball has died at the age of 78.
Ball's agent released a statement that stated the star had "passed away following a short illness".
Ball was best known for playing gang lord Terry Bates in BBC soap EastEnders from 2007 to 2019 who notably attacked Peggy Mitchell (Barbara Windsor) while smashing up the Queen Victoria pub.
He also starred in the drama Footballers’ Wives and took on the role of the chairman of the club and ex-rock star Garry Ryan.
Fans also knew Ball from his role in Hazell as private detective James "Jim" Hazell, as well as appearing in a series of crime shows such as Jonathan Creek, Hustle, Heartbeat and Bergerac .
Not all his work consisted of serious roles, as he also starred in comedies Red Dwarf and The Young Ones and drama The Crezz
Nicholas was known for his role as gang lord Terry Bates
BBC
It wasn't just on the small screen that Ball saw success as he starred in big-name films such as war drama Overlord and the thriller Rogue Male.
He also impressed fans with his roles in crime drama The Krays: Dead Man Walking and Jilly Cooper adaptation The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous.
His most recent projects included a 2024 rural-set drama The Kingdom By The Sea, opposite Coronation Street actress Rula Lenska
News of his death has left loyal soap and EastEnders fans devastated with tributes pouring in.
His notable role saw him trash The Queen Vic
BBC
One wrote: "RIP Nicholas Ball. Loved him in Hazell."
Another added: "No! Not another soap legend! I remember his storyline with Peggy which was just amazing! Such a great actor and a big loss."
A third penned: "Wishing my best to his family at this hard time! R.I.P Sir. You were great."
"Loved him in The Krays: Dead Man Walking! Such a talent and a big loss in the industry!" a fourth wrote before another said: "R.I.P. Very sad news."
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The EastEnders star died from a short illness
GETTY
Ball is survived by his wife Ayda, and was previously married to comedian Sir Billy Connolly's second wife, Pamela Stephenson, a comedy actress-turned-therapist whom he met on the set of Not The Nine O'Clock News.