Legendary Sci-Fi Stars Blake’s 7 and EastEnders Actor Michael Keating Dies at 79

British veteran actor Michael Keating (Michael Keating), who helped lead the golden era of British TV dramas and left a lasting impression on generations of viewers who loved genre fare, has died.

■ The legend of Blake’s 7 falls asleep… Dies at 79

On the 21st (local time), according to foreign outlets including USA Today and The Independent, Keating’s book publisher, “Cult Edge,” and the audio drama production company “Big Finish” officially announced that he died at age 79.

In an official statement, Cult Edge said, “We are deeply saddened to share the news of Michael Keating’s passing.” It added, “He was an actor with unparalleled talent and always a warm, wonderful person who brightened the people around him. We offer our deepest condolences to his family and friends.”

■ A record of appearing in all 52 episodes… A British sci-fi icon, Vila Restal

Born in 1947 in Edmonton, north London, Michael Keating began his acting career on the theater stage in 1966. His defining work that launched him to mainstream stardom was the BBC’s legendary classic sci-fi series “Blake’s 7,” which aired across four seasons from 1978 to 1981.

In the show, he played “Vila Restal”, a standout thief who calls himself a coward, and he injected plenty of energy into the series. In particular, Michael Keating set the record as the “only actor” to appear in all 52 episodes of the series without missing a single one, leaving a clear mark on the history of British sci-fi. Even after the series ended, from 2012 to 2022, he continued voicing Vila Restal through audio dramas, communicating with fans without interruption.

Big Finish, the audio drama production company, praised the late actor’s performance philosophy, saying, “In his hands, Vila wasn’t just a simple comic foil—he was born as something more.” It continued, “He completed the character with honesty that recognizes his own limits, wit, and warmth you couldn’t help but love.”

■ The warm neighbor of the national drama EastEnders: Reverend Stevens

For viewers of Korean TV dramas and British TV fans at home, he is also familiar as a presence in the UK’s long-running national soap opera, “EastEnders.” From 2005 to 2017, he appeared regularly for a total of 54 episodes as “Reverend George Stevens,” guarding the local church in the village of Walford.

In the series, Reverend Stevens appeared at moments big and small—from the weddings and baptisms of villagers to heartrending funeral scenes—offering comfort to their souls as a warm spiritual pillar. In particular, for 12 years he was loved as the cozy neighbor in viewers’ living rooms, especially from the time he delivered his final message to the character Dot Cotton in 2017—“I will move to Australia with my daughter and retire”—until the moment he left the show.

Beyond that, Michael Keating also appeared in the 1977 episode “The Sun Makers” of the legendary British sci-fi drama “Doctor Who.” He also turned up in numerous acclaimed works across genres, including the famous sitcom “Yes Minister,” the medical drama “Casualty,” and the mystery series “Midsomer Murders,” filling the British broadcasting scene for nearly 60 years.

Upon hearing of the departure of a legendary actor, fans in Britain are sending out passionate tributes via social media, saying, “My hero from childhood is gone,” and “The galaxy’s best thief and a true star—rest in peace.”