Leonard Fenton dies aged 95

The actor was best known for his role as Dr Legg in EastEnders.

A statement from his family said: “The family of the actor Leonard Fenton are heartbroken to announce his death at the age of 95 on Saturday, January 29. Best known for his role as Dr Legg on EastEnders, Leonard’s acting career spanned more than 60 years.

“He worked in TV and film and his long stage career included time at the National Theatre and most recently the Royal Shakespeare Company. He felt privileged to have worked with some of the greats of the theatre, including Samuel Beckett, Orson Welles and Jonathan Miller.

“His passion for painting and singing pre-dated his acting career and was equally as important to him. He will be missed beyond words by his family. We feel incredibly lucky to have been able to be with him as his health worsened towards the end – a privilege denied to so many during these tough times.”

Dr Legg and Dot reconnected for one final time in 2018

Harold Legg and Dot Cotton had been friends for decades.

Appearing in the very first episode of EastEnders back in 1985, Dr Legg served as Walford’s local GP until his retirement in 1997.

During his time in the Square, Dot Branning (June Brown) was a constant in his professional life due to her many – often exaggerated – health complaints. Despite Dot being a handful as a patient, she and Dr. Legg were firm friends.

After retiring as Walford’s GP, the character of Dr Legg continued to pop up occasionally for short storylines – notably he was a source of support for Dot when their old friend Ethel Skinner (Gretchen Franklin) was dying from cancer in September 2000.

The former family GP of the Fowlers paid his respects at Mark Fowlers’ funeral in 2004.

Dr Legg was seen in 2007 when Dot visited him for advice.

In April 2004, he attended Mark Fowler’s funeral, and a few years later he was on hand with advice for Dot who had taken home a baby she had found abandoned in a church.

Fenton returned to EastEnders one final time in 2018 as bosses planned to give his character closure by killing him off. The plot also lured fellow classic characters Lofty Holloway (Tom Watt) and Mary the Punk (Linda Davidson) back to the Square to pay their respects.

Dr Legg died from cancer with Dot by his side in February 2019. The character appeared in a total of 267 episodes of EastEnders.

An EastEnders spokesperson said: “We are deeply saddened to hear that Leonard has passed away. Since appearing in the very first episode of EastEnders, Leonard created a truly iconic character in Doctor Legg who will always be remembered. Our love and thoughts are with Leonard’s family and friends.”

In 2000 Doctor Legg and Dot both shared the pain of Ethel Skinner’s terminal cancer.

1993: Doctor Legg during his original run in EastEnders.

In 2015, Fenton told the Express that he originally left the soap due to what he felt were some “strange” scripting choices for his character.

“I enjoyed Dr Legg until they began to change the character and gave me strange lines; I was disturbed when, in the script, I misdiagnosed an obvious case of meningitis. Another time in the script, I said to Pete Beale, who kept a fruit and veg stall, ‘This decaying vegetation must be removed!’ I thought, why would I say a pompous thing like that, as I’d known Pete for years?” – Leonard Fenton speaking in 2015

The actor’s other credits included Z Cars, Play for Today and The Bill.