Mark Eden facts for kids

Mark Eden, whose real name was Douglas John Malin, was an English actor. He was born on February 14, 1928, and passed away on January 1, 2021. He was most famous for playing the bad guy, Alan Bradley, in the popular TV show Coronation Street. He was on the show from 1986 to 1989.

Early Life of Mark Eden

Mark Eden was born Douglas John Malin in a part of London, England, called St Pancras. This happened on February 14, 1928.

Mark Eden's Acting Career

As Mark Eden, he acted in many plays at the Royal Court Theatre and other theaters across England and Wales. He also appeared in many TV shows and movies.

Notable TV and Film Roles

Some of his early TV roles included the Doctor Who story Marco Polo in 1964, where he played Marco Polo himself. He was also in Quatermass and the Pit in 1958 and The Prisoner in 1967. In the 1970s, he played Inspector Parker in TV shows based on the Lord Peter Wimsey detective stories.

Becoming Alan Bradley in Coronation Street

In 1981, Mark Eden had a small role in Coronation Street as a character named Wally Randle. Later, he returned to the show for a much bigger role. He became very well-known for playing Alan Bradley. Alan Bradley was a villain who caused a lot of trouble on the show.

Leaving Coronation Street

Mark Eden's time on Coronation Street ended in December 1989. His character, Alan Bradley, was dramatically killed by a tram in Blackpool. This was a very memorable scene for many viewers. In 2009, Mark Eden even helped to unveil a special plaque at the tram stop where the scene was filmed.

After leaving Coronation Street, Mark Eden said he often got offers to play "psycho" characters because of his role as Alan Bradley. Before the show, he usually played more polite, upper-class gentlemen. He continued to work in theater and radio plays. He even worked with the famous music group the Beach Boys and wrote a musical about them. In 2010, he wrote a book about his life called Who's Going to Look at You?. He also appeared in an episode of the detective show Poirot.

Mark Eden's Personal Life

Mark Eden was married three times during his life.

First Marriage and Family

His first wife was Joan Long. They got married in 1953. They had a son named David, who was born in 1957 and also became an actor. David's daughter, Emma Griffiths Malin, who was born in 1980, is also an actress. This means acting ran in the family! Mark and Joan divorced in 1959. Joan later married another actor named John Le Mesurier.

Later Marriages

In 1971, Mark Eden married Diana W. Smith. She later became an actress known as Diana Eden. They had a daughter together named Polly. In 1993, Mark Eden married Sue Nicholls. She was his co-star on Coronation Street and is the daughter of Lord Harmar-Nicholls. Mark and Sue remained married until he passed away.

Later Life and Passing

In his later years, Mark Eden suffered from Alzheimer's disease, which affects memory and thinking. He was admitted to the hospital in November 2020 because of the disease. Mark Eden passed away on January 1, 2021, at the age of 92.

See also

In Spanish: Mark Eden para niños