Mark Eden

Early life

He was born in London and he received little formal education as he spent almost two years in a TB sanatorium as a child. However he read the literary classics including Shakespeare, having been introduced to the library by a teacher. He left school at 14 and worked on fairgrounds.

Career

Eden has appeared in repertory theatre in England and Wales and at the Royal Court Theatre. His many television and film roles include the Doctor Who serial Marco Polo (1964) in which he played Marco Polo, a reporter in Quatermass and the Pit in 1958, Number 100 in The Prisoner in 1967, and Inspector Parker in the TV adaptations of several Lord Peter Wimsey stories in the 1970s. He also had a long running role in Coronation Street (1986–1989) in which he played Alan Bradley. His exit from this role was famously being knocked down by a Blackpool tram. At the location there is now a plaque at the tram stop which recalls this scene.

After leaving Coronation Street, Eden worked on the stage and in radio plays. He also worked with The Beach Boys and wrote a musical about them. His television appearances included playing Boucher in an episode of Poirot.

His autobiography, Who's Going To Look At You? was published in 2010.

Personal life

Eden has been married three times: