Veteran EastEnders actor Rudolph Walker has been forced to publicly deny disturbing online rumours falsely claiming he had died. The 86-year-old star, who has played patriarch Patrick Trueman since 2001, took to social media platform X to reassure concerned fans.
'I am alive & well': Star's Direct Response to Fake News
In a statement shared on Wednesday, 18th December 2025, Walker directly addressed the malicious conspiracy theory. "I have become aware that there is fake news being circulated regarding my death," he wrote. "Please be assured that I am alive & well and will be on set at EastEnders first thing tomorrow."
The actor, who was awarded a CBE for services to drama and charity in 2021, signed off his post with enthusiastic thanks to supporters: "Thank you for sharing this real news!!" His intervention highlights the distressing speed at which false information can spread online, even concerning beloved public figures.
A Soap Icon's Enduring Legacy and Recent Plots
Rudolph Walker has been a cornerstone of the BBC One soap for nearly a quarter of a century. His character, Patrick Trueman – father to Anthony Trueman and Isaac Baptiste and adoptive dad to Katie and Paul – has been at the centre of numerous dramatic storylines.
This year alone, Patrick celebrated a summer wedding following the return of his beloved wife Yolande, played by Angela Wynter. More recently, he found himself in peril when troubled teen Oscar Branning (Pierre Counihan-Moullier) broke into the Trueman home, stealing Patrick's betting shop winnings and pushing the pensioner to the ground during the confrontation.
Overcoming Industry Challenges as a Trailblazing Actor
Despite his beloved status, Walker has spoken candidly about the challenges faced as a Black actor in the industry. In a 2024 appearance on ITV's This Morning, he told host Ben Shephard he preferred to see his career as "challenging" rather than difficult.
"I had a mindset when I came to the UK, there is an aim and I want to succeed here. So whatever challenges that were thrown, I faced it head on and found a way round," he explained. He revealed that early in his career, he was told certain roles were not for "a Black actor," and that parts were often racially defined.
Born in San Juan, Trinidad and Tobago, Walker moved to the UK aged 20 in 1960 to pursue acting. He became one of the first Black actors to appear regularly on British television in shows like the 1970s sitcom Love Thy Neighbour, The Thin Blue Line, and the film Ali G Indahouse.
Beyond his screen work, Walker established The Rudolph Walker Foundation in 2009 on his 70th birthday. The charity aims to inspire young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue careers in the performing arts.
His definitive statement has now put the false rumours to rest, confirming that one of Walford's most enduring characters is very much alive and continuing his work.
