EastEnders star Nicholas Ball dies and cause of death revealed as tributes pour in
Nicholas Ball played gang lord Terry Bates in BBC's EastEnders and also starred in Footballers Wives.
Actor Nicholas Ball has died aged 78 following a short illness. He portrayed the vicious gang lord Terry Bates in EastEnders between 2007 and 2009 and also had roles in Footballers' Wives and Hazell.
The news was announced by his agent who said today that he "passed away following a short illness". He added the star's "successful acting career on stage and screen spanned an impressive six decades".
During his time on EastEnders he famously clashed with Peggy Mitchell, played by the late Barbara Windsor. One of his most memorable moments in the BBC soap came when he attacked her while smashing up her beloved Queen Victoria pub.
He also had a memorabl role in Footballers' Wives in 2006 playing Garry Ryan, the new Chairman of Earl's Park Football Club, in the fifth and final series of the show. He had originally appered in spin off show Footballers Wives Extra Time.
The role that first brought him to public prominece was cockney Private Detective James 'Jim' Hazell in the drama Hazell which ran from 1978-1979. Ironically, given his later role in Footballers' Wives the character created by journalist and novelist Gordon Williams alongside footballer Terry Venables, who wrote under the joint pseudonym of P.B.Yuill.
Other noteable appearances included roles in episodes of shows such as Jonathan Creek, Hustle, Heartbeat and Bergeracwith. He also showed off his comedy chops with appearances in Red Dwarf and The Young Ones.
Most recently, he filmed the 2024 rural-set drama The Kingdom By The Sea, which saw him starring opposite former Coronation Street actress Rula Lenska.
The same year as his breakthrough role in Hazell began he married actress–comedian and psychologist, Pamela Stephenson.
They divorced following her affair - and eventual elopement—with comedian Billy Connolly to whom she is still married..
He is survived by his widow Ayda. Upon learning the news of his death fans took to X, formerly known as Twitter to pay tribute to the actor.
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