EastEnders star Roberta Taylor dies aged 76 following 'infection caused by a fall'

English actress Roberta Taylor, best known for playing matriarch Irene Raymond in EastEnders in the late '90s, has died. She was 76.

The Guardian reported Taylor died on July 6 following "an infection caused by a fall two months prior, agitating her underlying health problems with pneumonia."

Fans, loved ones and colleagues have flooded social media with tributes for the actress, who was also known for her role as Inspector Gina Gold in The Bill.

READ MORE: Prince Harry set to inherit millions in the coming weeks

READ MORE: The most (and least) risky cities for tourists, ranked

"Such sad news about Roberta Taylor," one fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter). "Very lucky to see her perform in Dusty a few years [ago]. A formidable actress."

"Sad to hear that Roberta Taylor has died," Jonathan Harvey wrote on X. "We worked together a few years ago when she played Dusty's mum in my Dusty musical. She was a force of nature. Love to her friends and family x".

View gallery

Obituaries for celebrities we lost in 2024

"Very sad indeed to hear of the death of Roberta Taylor. It was a real privilege to work with her on The Bill," Tim Key wrote on X.

"She was the real deal – a fierce and strong personality, but with a kindness and joy for life that made spending time with her an absolute blast."

READ MORE: Why Tammy had to go by a fake name when she started eight-figure business

READ MORE: It's your last chance to grab these post-Prime Day deals

Born in London, Taylor's extensive acting career included roles on stage as well as screen.

Her final role was as Gloria Fonteyn in a six-episode stint on television's Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators, which ended in 2020.

She is survived by her actor husband of 28 years, Peter Guinness, her son Elliot, as well as her granddaughter and two stepbrothers.

FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.