Soap icon Rudolph Walker, famed for his role as Albert Square's charming Patrick Trueman, has opened up about the dark times he faced when he was broke and homeless for two years. He also keept his struggles a secret from his castmates and even his own children. The 84-year-old actor shared how he would often be reduced to tears during his commute to the Elstree studio, battling with the "utter despair" of leading a "double life".
Despite being a star on one of the BBC's top shows, Rudolph's life was far from glamorous as he lived out of a suitcase and depended on the kindness of friends for accommodation. His colleagues were oblivious to the severity of his plight, which began in the mid-2010s following a financially crippling divorce from his second wife, Dounne Alexander MBE, whom he wed in 1998. Due to legal fees, Rudolph found himself destitute in his 70s after a career spanning over four decades.
With nothing but his car, he reached such a low point that he would look forward to late-night shoots, hoping the , who didn't know about his predicament, might offer him a hotel stay near the set. Reflecting on those tough times, he expressed: "It was painful. It was extremely difficult.
I just didn't have any financial means. I was literally starting from scratch again in my 70s, with nowhere to live. It was a time of great pain and loneliness.
", reports . He fought to keep his struggles hidden from colleagues, maintaining a facade as the cheery Patrick we all love on screen..