Michael Elphick

'Michael Elphick' (qv) was a fantastic and very popular actor. He will be best remembered for his role as Ken Boon in the hit series _Boon (1986)_ (qv). He died tragically at the early age of 55. He had been in ill-health for some years, caused by a long-running battle with alcohol, which was exacerbated by the early death of his partner of many years.Best remembered for 'Boon', his career was no one-hit wonder. Elphick had been working in television for the past 33 years and his many excellent performances included 'Dennis Potter' (qv)'s _Play for Today: Blue Remembered Hills (1979)_ (qv), as the bully, Peter; _The Knowledge (1979)_ (qv), when he played a would-be London cab driver driven almost to despair by the sadistic examiner (played by 'Nigel Hawthorne' (qv)); _Private Schulz (1981)_ (qv), _Auf Wiedersehen, Pet (1983)_ (qv) and _Three Up Two Down (1985)_ (qv).His film career was arguably less successful, but none-the-less featured a rich and varied vein of characterisations.His final roles proved to be the film _Dead in the Water (2002)_ (qv), in which he unfortunately had quite a small role, and millions saw his final television role, in _EastEnders (1985)_ (qv), where he excelled in a very different role, showing just what a fine actor he was.::Colin Peppiatt (colinpeppiatt@hotmail.com)