How EastEnders legend Rudolph Walker overcame two divorces and becoming homeless to find love AND soap success after ditching his life in Trinidad to pursue an acting career

Rudolph Walker is one of EastEnders‘ stars who have been on the soap the longest, having joined the soap in 2001 as Patrick Trueman.

The character has been through it all in the series: he had his three sons, married his childhood sweetheart Sheree and got back together with his ex-wife Yolande.

In 2018, he received the British Soap Award for his outstanding achievement over all his years on the show.

However, he has also had his problems in life as he previously revealed that he secretly homeless while appearing in his long-running role on the soap opera.

Rudolph admitted he was leading a “double life” after a divorce left him “poor” at the age of 70.

But after overcoming two divorces, Rudolph found love again with Evangeline Vincent, and the couple is still together to this day.

MailOnline looks back at how the Eastenders legend overcame two divorces to find love and success on the soap after giving up his life in Trinidad.

Moving to the United Kingdom

Rudolph was born on September 28, 1939, which makes him 84 years old. He is originally from San Juan in Trinidad and Tobago.

He began acting at the age of eight and became the youngest member of Derek Walcott’s Trinidad Theatre Workshop.

In 1960 he decided to move abroad to explore other opportunities and further develop his acting career.

Rudolph initially wanted to go to the United States, but actor Errol John advised him to go to Britain.

The soap star told The Guardian: ‘I left Trinidad when I was 20. I was going to go to America where I had more family and more connections, but Errol John convinced me to come to the UK. John was in Trinidad doing a play.’

He added: ‘I made an appointment to meet him. He said he liked what he saw in me and encouraged me to go to the UK where the training was much better.’

Landing his big roles

One of Rudolph’s first television roles was as a police officer in the play The Wednesday. He also appeared in Love Thy Neighbour, The Thin Blue Line, Ali G Indahouse, Doctor Who and Empire Road.

The actor also worked on the series On the Buses and appeared in the first episode of Mr. Bean in 1990 as The Examiner.

Rudolph joined the cast of EastEnders in 2001 as Patrick Trueman and has since also starred in the internet spin-off series EastEnders: E20.

Outside of the BBC soap, he played the grandfather in both seasons of the sitcom The Crouches, which follows the lives of a dysfunctional family in Walworth, South East London.

He also appeared in several films, including 10 Rillington Place, King Ralph and Let Him Have It.

Rudolph has also had an extensive theatre career, appearing in the first production of Mustapha Matura’s Play Mas at the Royal Court Theatre in 1974, Othello, The Tempest and Pericles and The Prince of Tyre.

Not many people know this, but Rudolph also provided the voice of the narrator in the opening and closing sequences of Teletubbies for the American version, and also in some British versions.

Marriage problems

Rudolph married Lorna Ross in 1968. They had two children together, daughter Sheona, 48, and son Darren, 52, before going their separate ways.

The actor married Dounne Alexander in August 1998.

Dounne is the founder of Gramma’s, a range of herbal pepper sauces sold in stores including Harrods and Fortnum and Mason.

She previously received an MBE (Master of British Museum) for her work with the Joining Hands In Health campaign.

However, Rudolph and Dounne later divorced.

The EastEnders legend found love again with Evangeline Vincent and the couple married in 2016. The pair are still together to this day.

Becoming homeless

This month, Rudolph revealed he was secretly homeless when he played the role of Patrick in EastEnders.

The actor admitted he was leading a “double life” after a divorce left him “poor” at the age of 70.

He recalls ‘crying’ on the way to the BBC studios in Elstree as he told his ‘pain and loneliness’ to his fellow actors.

The legal costs of his second divorce from Dounne took their toll and he was left with ‘only a car to his name.’

In an interview with The Mirrorhe explained, “It was painful. It was extremely difficult. I just didn’t have the financial resources. I literally started all over again at 70, with no place to live. It was a time of great pain and loneliness.”

‘Some days I would pull over on the side of the road on the way to the studio and cry. I guess it was kind of a double life.’

“Questions like, ‘Who am I? Why am I in this position?’ The audience that saw me every night as Patrick had no idea this was happening.”

Diane Parish, who plays Denise Fox, was one of the few cast members who could see through his cheerful image, but despite her questions, he never opened up about what he was going through.

He hasn’t even told his children Darren and Sheona how bad his financial problems are.

The release of his new memoirs

Rudolph’s new memoir, Walking With Dignity, chronicles the trials and hardships the actor has endured, as well as the highlights of his 60-year career so far.

Rudolph announced the release date of his autobiography via X, formerly Twitter, writing: “Finally!! My autobiography ‘Walking With Dignity’ comes out September 26th.”

‘You can pre-order at https://amzn.eu/d/cWyoDGT I hope you like it. Spread the word #autobiography #mylife #actorlife #FamilyFirst.’

Launch of the Rudolph Walker Foundation

In honor of his 70th birthday, Rudolph founded the Rudolph Walker Foundation in 2010 to help underprivileged youth pursue careers in the entertainment industry.

The foundation includes an inter-school Drama Award that schools from across London compete for.

In addition, the Rudolph Walker Role Model Award is presented to outstanding students who have made a special contribution.

For example, by showing positive leadership, being a good influence on peers and others and being a role model within the school.