EastEnders legend Rudolph Walker recalls saving Elizabeth Taylor from choking

The star, known for starring as Patrick Trueman in BBC's EastEnders, has spoken about the experience in his new book Walking With Dignity

Rudolph Walker has been lighting up our screens for more than 50 years and worked with a number of strong women, such as Elizabeth Taylor and… EastEnders ’ Pat Butcher.

And after 23 years of playing Patrick Trueman in the BBC soap, Rudolph, 85 this month, has no intention of retiring just yet.

With his autobiography, Walking With Dignity, set for release next week, here, Trinidadian Rudolph shares some highlights from his remarkable career…

It was coming up to my 62nd birthday in September 2001 when I had a call from my agent saying Mr John Yorke, executive producer of EastEnders, would like to see me.

John and I talked about the type of character I’d like to play – a true Trinidadian of the old school, who had travelled the world, got into all sorts of trouble… a lovable rogue.

I felt the character would be a great way to bring a bit of comedy into the show. And so, I said yes!

I suggested Patrick should have a gold tooth – a trademark of some older Trinidadian men.

At the time, there were stalls in Shepherd’s Bush market where you could buy clip-on gold teeth, so I tried one out and it was agreed this would be part of Patrick’s wardrobe.

Sometimes I leave my dressing room after filming, get home and realise I’m still wearing it.

As with every job in the past, I have thrown 150% effort into the show and enjoyed what little contribution I have made to the continued success of EastEnders.

Storylines included an early marriage to Yolande, played by Angela Wynter, an affair with Pat Butcher (Pam St Clement), the loss of a son to drugs, more affairs and, recently, the chance to play a more confused Patrick after he suffers a series of mini-strokes.

Through it all, I’ve kept Patrick’s favourite saying: ‘Yeah, man!’

Over the years, I’ve been blessed in that every one of the actors I worked with were fantastic. I admired Barbara Windsor (Peggy Mitchell) for her grace, June Brown (Dot Cotton) was just absolutely superb, John Bardon (Jim Branning) was very professional and working with Pam St Clement was a joy.

That scene where I left my hat at the foot of Pat’s bed was hilarious and her timing, the twinkle in her eye when we were doing our flirting scenes and her support from day one was invaluable.

I was also honoured by being awarded an OBE in the 2006 Birthday Honours for services to drama and charity, and a CBE in the 2020 New Year’s Honours.

I collected it at St James’s Palace from Prince Charles (soon to be King Charles) and as we were talking, he referred to Coronation Street instead of EastEnders. I corrected him – me, a once-poor boy from Trinidad correcting a future king – and invited him to visit the set after he talked about how both he and his mother had visited the set of the northern serial drama.

Apparently, this invitation was noted and both he and his wife Camilla turned up in Elstree. We then filmed a scene in the market where Camilla is offered a tot of rum by Patrick.

All alcoholic drinks on the set are usually just watered-down cola or cold tea but on this occasion, in honour of the royal visit, real alcohol was on offer.

The day I saved Elizabeth Taylor

In 1972, I spent two weeks with Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor on location in Germany and Italy filming Divorce His, Divorce Hers.

On the first day, Elizabeth made a special request to have a photograph taken with me. I was surprised and flattered. And on the third or fourth day, Elizabeth asked: “Would you like to come over to have dinner with us?”

She arranged a small, informal dinner at their apartment. I was sat next to Elizabeth – something of a pinch yourself moment – and at some point she started choking and asked me to tap her back. I dutifully complied but gently, almost gingerly… this was Elizabeth Taylor after all.

My attempt to assist proved unsuccessful as she was still coughing when from across the table, Richard commanded in that booming voice: “Thump the woman, for damn sake!”

An amusing incident involving my insurance company happened many years later. I was discussing options for vehicle insurance and asked the assessor why the quoted estimates he had given me were so high.

His answer: “Well, you’re an actor and could have any accident at any time with some big star in your car such as, erm…” and after casting about for a suitably starry name, he alighted on Elizabeth Taylor. That gave me a good laugh.

• To read more of Rudolph’s story you can buy his autobiography “ Walking With Dignity ” released September 26, 2024, by Chronos Publishing, priced £12.99 and available from all good bookstores and Amazon