This is your life - Rudy Walker - Thames Television (1999)

Rudolph Walker was born on 28 September 1939 in San Juan, Trinidad and Tobago, and began acting as an eight-year-old in primary school, going on to join Derek Walcott's Trinidad Theatre Workshop as its youngest member. With the aim of furthering his career, he left the island at the age of 20 in 1960. He had been planning to go to the United States, where he had connections, but actor Errol John - who had already migrated to Britain but was in Trinidad doing a play - convinced him to go to the UK, where the training was considered to be superior.
Walker was married to Lorna Ross in 1968, but they divorced after having two children. He then married fellow Trinidadian Dounne Alexander in 1998. This union later ended, and since 2016, he has been married to Evangeline Vincent.
Career
Walker's earliest television role was as a policeman in the British The Wednesday Play, in the episode titled "Fable" (aired 27 January 1965).[He is known for his comedic roles in Love Thy Neighbour (Thames Television), The Thin Blue Line, which starred Rowan Atkinson, and in Ali G Indahouse. Walker also appeared in Doctor Who, in the 1969 serial The War Games, and also in several episodes of Empire Road in 1979. He was one of the first black actors to be seen regularly on British television, and so has always been proud of his role on the controversial Love Thy Neighbour, which ran for seven series, from 1972 to 1976.
He appeared in the first episode of On the Buses, "The Early Shift" (1969), and the first episode of Mr. Bean as "The Examiner" (1990). His other notable roles included as barrister Larry Scott in the 1985 BBC series Black Silk, by Mustapha Matura and Rudy Narayan.
Since 2001, Walker has played Patrick Trueman in the BBC One television soap opera EastEnders, for which role he was voted best actor in 2002 at the annual Ethnic Multicultural Media Awards, and in 2010 he appeared in the Internet spin-off series EastEnders: E20. He also starred in a BBC One sitcom called The Crouches, about a family from Walworth, in South-East London. He played the grandfather for both series (2003-2005).
Although much of his work has been on television, he has appeared in several movies, including 10 Rillington Place, King Ralph (along with his Love Thy Neighbour co star, Jack Smethurst), and Let Him Have It. On the stage, Walker appeared in the first production of Mustapha Matura's Play Mas at the Royal Court Theatre in 1974, and has played the titular character in stage productions of Shakespeare's Othello, directed by David Thacker and Charles Marowitz, and also Caliban in a production of The Tempest directed by Jonathan Miller. Walker was also Gower in Thacker's 1989 production of Pericles, Prince of Tyre.
He also played opposite Diane Parish in Lovejoy (starring Ian McShane) where they played Father and Daughter.
Walker also lent his voice to the British children's television series Teletubbies, in which he renarrated the opening and closing sequences for the American dubbed version and voiced some of the voice trumpets for both the British and American versions.
He was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1999, when he was surprised by Michael Aspel on his 60th birthday at Lord's cricket ground.
A biography for children about him, written by Verna Wilkins, was published by Tamarind Books on 4 September 2008.
In 2018, he was awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award at the British Soap Awards.
Mr Walker also appeared in the theatrical film HERO directed by Frances Anne Solomon
Honours
Walker was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2006 Birthday Honours for services to drama and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2020 New Year Honours for services to drama and charity.
‪@VisualArtandProduction‬

[@lindseyellen3607]

Loved love thy neighbour 😂😂 fantastic actors, don't care what the brigade say, it was a fab show and I loved it 🎉

[@VisualArtandProduction]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@LeFouGallois]

Not only is Rudolph Walker an incredibly talented actor, he is also such a discreetly dignified, respectful and sincere gentleman with a cheeky sparkle in his eye. He is a fine figure of a man, and it is easy to see how he has won a place in our hearts.

[@darrenwells2277]

They need to bring this programme back! Its just a pure pleasure to watch!

[@leonashmead6381]

i love this! and ever since then he's become even more of a national treasure!!!

[@adarobertson8420]

The best voice ever yeah man

[@jacksugden8190]

Good-old Sambo, very much enjoyed him in Love Thy Neighbour in 1972 when I was just 16, 52 years on as a 68 year-old pensioner, was nice to see him in the series on KZbin, Walker was one of the best there was, later saw him in EastEnders, if only I could have met Rudolph and buy him a 🍺.

[@fingerprint5511]

Oh my heart such love and joy, bless you Rudolph! 🙏🏽🌠

[@pauldavies917]

Been on our tv for years and looks in great shape still Gentleman

[@johntaylor6345]

Rudy brilliant as Patrick Trueman in Eastenders. A true legend and brilliant actor.

[@triciairvine3385]

Absolutely a legend, love they naighbour absolutely brilliant program in the day, couldn't show that today, 😮😮, thank you rudy, love you for who you are❤ ❤beautiful

[@user-te3mg6lw8j]

Excellent

[@philhewitt5069]

Wow, that Ali shuffle was amazing !!

[@briangearing841]

Rudy is a legend great actor and best

[@nickmoolchan2546]

Great man! Still going strong

[@bazbanter9329]

Thanks for uploading, Rudolph is a wonderful national treasure It was nice to see Nina Baden Semper here, I've seen Rudy and Kate in more recent shows, but I don't see Nina in much at all since Love thy Neighbour

[@RepentingMan]

Here's her TV repertoire from Wiki: Six Shades of Black (1965) - Fatima Redcap (1966) - Nurse Public Eye (1966) - Barmaid / Pearl The Corridor People (1966) - Pearl Intrigue (1966) - Nurse Rainbow City (1967) - Nurse The Wednesday Play (1968) - Ward nurse Mystery and Imagination (1968) - Vampire Counterstrike (1969) - Mrs. Sengupta Armchair Theatre (1970) - Annie Steffans Callan (1970) - Anna Confession (1970) - Waitress Take Three Girls (1970) - Claire The Persuaders! (1970) - Air Hostess Dear Mother...Love Albert (1970) - Ursula Thick as Thieves (1971) Love Thy Neighbour (1972-1976) - Barbie Reynolds Whodunnit? (1975) - Panellist Machinegunner (1976) - Felicity Rae Ingram George and Mildred (1979) - Sister The Bill (1988) - Mrs. Leigh Children's Ward (1989) - Jan Stevens Little Napoleons (1994) - Earnestina Crossroads (2002) - Rhona Martin Bernard's Watch (2004) - Bami (Last tv appearance)

[@alecjohnson5269]

Rudy a legend

[@marvinmuonekejazz]

Rudy's reaction at 2:19 is priceless! 😄

[@dixienormous2440]

It looks staged to me.

[@thegman549]

That was absolutely beautiful.

[@jaggass]

I first saw Rudy Walker as an invigilator on Mr Bean.

[@louiserowland9940]

Lovely really enjoyed this .Watching from Austraila.

[@VisualArtandProduction]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@saanzacs]

One of the 'elder statesmen' of British soaps, along with Chris Chittell (Emmerdale) and William Roache (Coronation Street)

[@barjumbo1969]

The scene from the 'love thy neighbour' film (where, they're dancing around eddy - who's 'cooking' in a pot), ALWAYS, make me laugh my behind off!😂

[@zzzpip]

excellent.

[@brianmarshall4753]

Thank you for loading that Patrick tureman from eastenders

[@MikeStarKaraokeUK]

He plays Patrick well and like his dancing to music in the living room always funny to see with his Rum drink

[@colinhill4963]

Love thou neighbour was one of the top comedies ever made and the movie was very funny.it,d a pity that society has got worse over the years,and they can return then now,but you can get them on dvd.comedies are now rubbish,in the 70,s they were very funny.now you only see rubbish.

[@rylengrabler1765]

What if Rudolph Walker Narrated Thomas & Friends

[@yuenkentsang9446]

Younger years

[@RepentingMan]

I can't find "Black Silk" on dvd, or anywhere else. Anyone got any ideas?

[@andrewjonesorion]

Gutted to see Jack Smethyrst missing and none of the cast of eastenders and thin blue line.

[@abskamara5432]

This was before he joined eastenders

[@smithmeister]

He appeared in a video message.

[@Iggywiggywoo]

Stop writing please! I said stop writing! WILL YOU STOP WRITING?! (Alarm clock rings)

[@alexrobinson3970]

mr voice t and a long tine f

[@domwherry]

Do you have any more episodes??

[@VisualArtandProduction]

Sorry Dom, I do not.

[@domwherry]

@@VisualArtandProduction do you know anyone who does as I'd be very interested would love someone to upload whole series

[@VisualArtandProduction]

@@domwherry Sorry Dom, I got this tape from Rudy Walker who asked me to digitize it for him. He graciously allowed me to post it on the channel. I could find no other episodes online.

[@domwherry]

@@VisualArtandProduction shame they couldn't get a few of "the thin blue line" cast back together

[@VisualArtandProduction]

Hi Dom this is a KZbin search link with some episodes of the show kzbin.info?search_query=this+is+your+life

[@josephlenehan4461]

Joseph and today TV

[@nicolemelnyk152]

So he's 80 now?

[@Fifers86]

83

[@alexcampbell3032]

@@Fifers86 You beat me to it cousin.

[@andrewbialogrodzki3255]

Have they never done Jack's this is your life

[@safeashouses211]

Yes, in 1973.

[@andrewbialogrodzki3255]

@@safeashouses211 I don't suppose anyone has the episode of jacks this is your life I would love to see it

[@safeashouses211]

@@andrewbialogrodzki3255 it's doubtful as a lot of those episodes were wiped, unfortunately.

[@mikehunt-qr9so]

Knickers

[@blaqvanman6418]

Cobblers

[@mikehunt-qr9so]

@@blaqvanman6418 ile hav half

[@thedarkdefender7780]

@@mikehunt-qr9so Pardon?

[@petrusdijkzeul4257]

his mother was a maid/pauper up until 2019 when her boss had to sell the old worthless house at the corner of eight avenue and third street barataria trinidad. i dont think he ever give her one cent . he must have been a low paid actor as he would stay at this house when he could afford to travel to trinidad . i think he cound only afford to come down once . he could not even afford to stay at hilton

[@davidfelix2594]

Maybe he had good reason for that?

[@trinisweetie87]

IT says his mom was dead by 1999 ... ?

[@petrusdijkzeul4257]

@@trinisweetie87 wrong info. her name was miss bishop. i think he was ashamed of her . i dont think he was a very successful black actor

[@trinisweetie87]

@@petrusdijkzeul4257 🤣 so he lied on TV about her being dead?

[@petrusdijkzeul4257]

@@trinisweetie87 i think she would have been less than 80 in 1999.

[@gretamoffat8666]

It is happening again no trans no immigrants no one who doesn’t look like me or think like me.

[@ANONYMOUS-xd3eu]

Bullshit

[@kevinharkin8334]

No full cast from Eastenders and Blue tin cops

[@themightyboush]

Wouldn't expect any Vic punters turning up here (bar Mona Hammond and Kate Williams), this was 1999, pre-Patrick Trueman.