Michael Keating | |
|---|---|
 Michael Keating at the Blake's 7 series 2 DVD launch, 2005 | |
| Born | Michael Frank Keating (1947-02-10)10 February 1947 Edmonton, Middlesex, England |
| Died | 26 April 2026(2026-04-26) (aged 79) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1966–2022 |
| Known for | Vila Restal in Blake's 7 Reverend Stevens in EastEnders |
Michael Frank Keating (10 February 1947 – 26 April 2026) was an English actor. He was best known for his role as Vila Restal in the science fiction television series Blake's 7 (1978–1981), and as Reverend Stevens in EastEnders (2005–2017).
Life and career
Keating was born in Edmonton, Middlesex, on 10 February 1947. His acting career began in 1966.[1] One of his earlier notable roles was as Goudry in The Sun Makers, a 1977 Doctor Who story. Just over a month later, Keating first appeared in the role of Vila Restal in the BBC TV series Blake's 7, which aired from 1978 to 1981.[2] Vila was the only character to appear in all fifty-two episodes of the series. In 1981, Keating appeared in an episode of the BBC sitcom Yes Minister titled The Death List, playing the role of Police Constable Ross.[3]
Some years later, Keating reunited with his Blake's 7 co-star Gareth Thomas in an episode of the BBC drama series Casualty.[3] In 2004, Keating returned to the Doctor Who franchise, guest-starring as Major Koth in the Big Finish Productions audio adventure The Twilight Kingdom.[2] In 2006, he starred in another Doctor Who audio adventure, this time as Inspector Chardalot in Year of the Pig. In 2009, he had a brief role in the BBC one-off drama Micro Men about the rise of the British home computer market in the late 1970s and early 1980s.[2]
From 2005 to 2017, Keating played Reverend Stevens in the BBC soap opera EastEnders.[1] He appeared as a recurring character, usually for a single episode or a few episodes at a time, in connection with another character's christening, marriage, or funeral, or relating to regular churchgoer Dot Branning (June Brown).[2]
Keating died at home from dementia on 26 April 2026, aged 79.[4][5][6]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Julius Caesar | Plebeian #2 | |
| 2009 | Micro Men | Derek Holley | TV movie |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Special Branch | Det. Constable Pearce | |
| 1971 | Merry-Go-Round | Saxon Prisoner | Episode: "The Raven and the Cross 1", TV Documentary |
| 1972 | Doomwatch | Stephen Grigg | Episode: "Enquiry" |
| Omnibus | Dante | Episode: "Max Beerbohm Remembers", TV documentary | |
| 1973 | The Dragon's Opponent | First mate | Episode: "The Drawn Sword", historical miniseries |
| 1977 | Doctor Who | Goudry | Serial: The Sun Makers |
| 1978–1981 | Blake's 7 | Vila Restal | 52 episodes |
| 1980 | The Dawson Watch | TBA | 2 episodes: "The Future" & "Holidays", sci-fi comedy |
| 1981 | Yes Minister | Constable Ross | Episode: "The Death List" |
| 1983 | Paul Squire, Esq | TBA | Episode: "1.6", sketch and variety show |
| 1986 | Rainbow | Detective Inspector Frost | Episode: "Detectives" |
| 1988 | King & Castle | Inspector Bell | Episode: "Floppy Discs", crime drama |
| 1989 | The Play on One | Daniel / Charlie | 2 episodes: "Clowns" & "These Foolish Things" |
| Capital City | Estate agent | Episode: "Thanksgiving" | |
| 1990 | The Two of Us | Police sergeant | Episode: "Dangers in the Night" |
| London's Burning | A. C. O. Howard | Episode "3.7", role uncredited | |
| 1991 | Kinsey | Murray | Episode: "The Authentic Voice... Little Miss Goosestep" |
| 1993 | Between the Lines | Police Federation Rep. | Episode: "Some Must Watch" |
| 1994 | True Crimes | Reenactment | Episode: "The Deepest Secret", TV documentary |
| The Bill | Geoff Tilson | Episode: "Menace" | |
| 1995, 2000 | Casualty | Graham Wingate / Pat Sadler | 2 episodes: "Bringing It All Back Home" & "States of Shock" |
| 2005–2013, 2015–2017 | EastEnders | Reverend George Stevens | 54 episodes |
| 2009 | Midsomer Murders | Derek Painter | Episode: "The Dogleg Murders" |
Radio and CD audio dramas
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–1999 | Blake's 7 | Vila Restal | 2 stories: "The Sevenfold Crown" & "The Syndeton Experiment" |
| 1999–2000 | Soldiers of Love | Mydas Mydasson | 5 episodes, sci-fi comedy |
| 2004, 2006 | Doctor Who: The Monthly Adventures | Major Koth / Inspector Chardalot | 2 serials: The Twilight Kingdom & Year of the Pig |
| 2010 | Graceless | Earl Kreekpolt | Series 1 |
| 2010 | Blake's 7: A Rebellion Reborn | Vila Restal | Episode: "When Vila Met Gan" |
| 2012–2016 | Blake's 7: The Liberator Chronicles | Vila Restal/Narrator | 14 episodes |
| 2013–2020 | Blake's 7: The Classic Adventures | Vila Restal | 34 episodes |
| 2014 | Doctor Who: The Fourth Doctor Adventures | Calvert | Serial: The Evil One |
| 2021–2022 | The Worlds of Blake's 7 | Vila Restal | 3 episodes |
References
- Feast Creative – The Narrow Road Company. "Michael Keating". narrowroad.co.uk.
- "Interview with Michael Keating". BBC. 14 January 2004.
- "Michael Keating: Credit Listings". tv.com. Retrieved 5 April 2009.
- "Michael Keating 1947–2026". Big Finish. 21 May 2026. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
- "Blake's 7 and EastEnders legend dies aged 79". Yahoo! News. 21 May 2026. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
- Edward Segarra (22 May 2026). "Michael Keating, British 'EastEnders' actor, dies at 79". USA Today. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
Further reading
- Toby Hadoke. Michael Keating obituary. The Guardian. 11 June 2026.
- Michael Keating, actor best known for Blake’s 7 and EastEnders. The Daily Telegraph. 29 May 2026.
- Louis Chilton. Michael Keating death: Popular Eastenders and Blake’s 7 star dies aged 79. The Independent. 21 May 2026.
- Blake's 7 and EastEnders star Michael Keating dies aged 79. RTÉ. 22 May 2026. From Press Association.
- James Hibbs. Michael Keating, EastEnders and Blake's 7 star, dies aged 79. Radio Times. 21 May 2026.
External links
- Michael Keating at IMDb
- Michael Keating discography at Discogs