Mark Eden

Douglas John Malin (14 February 1928 – 1 January 2021) known as Mark Eden, was an English actor. 

He is known for his portrayal of Alan Bradley in Coronation Street from 1986 to 1989.

Early life

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

Career

As Mark Eden, he has appeared at the Royal Court Theatre, and in repertory theatre in England and Wales. His 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. Having briefly played a short lived character named Wally Randle in 1981, he returned for a long-running role in Coronation Street, in which he played Alan Bradley.

Eden's time in Coronation Street came to an end in December 1989 after Bradley was killed by a Blackpool tram. In 2009, Eden unveiled a plaque at the tram stop where the scene was filmed.

After leaving Coronation Street, Eden said he received many casting offers for "psycho" roles. Prior to the show, Eden was often cast in roles of an upper-class gentleman. 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 was married three times. His first wife was Joan Long (1953-1959), whom he met in 1952 at Ramsgate. Their son, David (1957-2017), also became an actor.

His second wife, Diana Smith, whom he met in 1971, later acted under the name of Diana Eden. She was eighteen years his junior, and they had a daughter named Polly. His first wife, Joan, was matron of honour at his wedding to Diana in 1973.

From 1993 until his death Eden was married to his third wife Sue Nicholls, his co-star in Coronation Street. His granddaughter Emma Griffiths Malin (b.1980) is also an actress.