EastEnders star Rudolph Walker has taken to social media to share a statement with his fans, following fake news he has died.
The actor has been playing the role of Patrick Trueman in the BBC One soap since 2001.
Over the years, Patrick has been at the centre of some classic Walford drama. He is the father of Anthony Trueman and Isaac Baptiste, and the adoptive dad of Katie and Paul.
Recently, Rudolph was forced to take to X to reassure followers that the news circulating online about him being dead is not true.
He wrote in a post: ‘I have become aware that there is fake news being circulated regarding my death. Please be assured that i am alive & well and will be on set at EastEnders first thing tomorrow.
The star added: ‘Thank you for sharing this real news!!’.
In EastEnders, Patrick has had a busy 2025. Following the return of beloved Yolande Trueman (Angela Wynter), the two characters got married in the summer.
Patrick’s life was in danger a few months ago, shortly after Oscar Branning (Pierre Counihan-Moullier) headed back to Albert Square.
As a result of the teen owing a thug some money, Oscar broke into the Trueman house to foolishly steal Patrick’s betting shop winnings. He was caught in the act, and in a desperate attempt to evade his identity being revealed, pushed the pensioner to the floor.
Last year, Rudolph spoke about the challenges he’s faced being a Black actor in the industry.
He said on This Morning: ‘I never use the word difficult, it is challenging.
‘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.’
Presenter Ben Shephard talked about how Rudolph was told certain roles weren’t for ‘a Black actor.’
Rudolph added: ‘Of course parts were written few and far between. If you were a doctor it had to be mentioned in the episode “Black doctor, Black road sweeper, Black bus conductor.”
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‘That was the challenge we were facing, and many of us fought to have that changed.
He concluded: ‘You go to a hospital and 80% of those nurses were from the Caribbean, and if you’re lying there ill some of them would say “I don’t want to be touched by a Black nurse,” but the majority of them were well cared for.’
Earlier in 2024 the Thin Blue Line star – who is 86 – set up the Rudolph Walker Foundation to ‘unlock the potential and promote the wellbeing of young people, by involving them in high-quality performing arts experiences and welcoming them into an inspiring and creative family.’
