Leonard Fenton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Leonard Fenton
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Fenton as Harold Legg in EastEnders
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| Born |
Leonard Finestein
29 April 1926 London, England
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| Died | 29 January 2022 (aged 95) |
| Education |
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| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1958–2019 |
| Television | EastEnders |
| Spouse(s) |
Madeline Thorner
(m. 1967, separated) |
| Children | 4 |
Leonard Fenton (born Leonard Finestein; 29 April 1926 – 29 January 2022) was a British actor, director, and painter. He was most famous for playing Dr. Harold Legg in the TV show EastEnders.
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Early life and education
Leonard Finestein was born in Stepney, London. His parents, Fanny and Morris, came from Eastern Europe. They had roots in places like Latvia and Lithuania.
He went to Raine Foundation Grammar School from 1937 to 1944. Leonard first studied to be a civil engineer at King's College London. During World War II, he was asked to join the British Army as an engineer.
He worked as an engineer for five years after the war. But then he decided to try something new. He chose to become an actor. He even won a special scholarship to study acting in London. This was at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art.
Acting career highlights
Leonard Fenton's acting career lasted for over sixty years. One of his first big chances came when Orson Welles offered him a role. This was in Welles' play called Chimes at Midnight.
He appeared in many TV shows. These included Colditz (1974) and Secret Army (1977). He also acted in Z-Cars (1978) and Auf Wiedersehen, Pet (1983). In the play Happy Days, he worked with the famous writer Samuel Beckett.
Playing Dr. Harold Legg
Fenton is best known for his role as Dr. Harold Legg in EastEnders. This was a very popular BBC soap opera. Dr. Legg was one of the first characters when the show started in 1985.
He appeared regularly until 1997. After that, he came back for short visits in 2000, 2004, 2007, and 2018. His last appearance was in 2019. The character of Dr. Legg was very important to the show in its early years.
Other roles and directing
After EastEnders, Fenton continued acting. He was in TV shows like Rumpole of the Bailey and The Bill. He also performed in plays in London's West End.
He was in many radio plays too. He played the Elvenking in The Hobbit. He was also Daddy Twofoot in The Lord of the Rings. Both were for BBC Radio 4.
Fenton also acted in films. These included The Devil-Ship Pirates (1964) and Give My Regards to Broad Street (1984). He was also in the horror movie The Zombie Diaries (2006).
In 2004, when he was 78, Fenton directed his first play. It was called After Chekhov. He also acted in a play called Cross Purpose in 2012 and 2013.
Final return to EastEnders
On 25 July 2018, it was announced that Fenton would return to EastEnders. He played Dr. Harold Legg again. This last time, his character sadly died on 15 February 2019. Dr. Legg passed away after a long fight with pancreatic cancer.
Personal life and passing
Leonard Fenton married Madeline Thorner, a cellist, in 1967. They had four children together. They later separated.
Besides acting, Leonard was also a talented painter. He had several art exhibitions where he showed his work. Before the 2010 general election, he supported the Labour Party. This is a political group in the UK.
Leonard Fenton passed away on 29 January 2022. He was 95 years old. His friend and EastEnders co-star, June Brown, remembered him fondly. She said he was "A charming man in all ways, first as a person and then as an actor, extremely polite and kind."
Images for kids
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Fenton as Harold Legg in EastEnders
