3amCelebrity NewsEastEndersActor Michael Keating appeared as Reverend Stevens from 2005 to 2017.15:27, 21 May 2026Updated 15:58, 21 May 2026Tributes were paid tonight to an beloved EastEnders actor who appeared in the soap for 12 years.‌Michael Keating, who appeared as Reverend Stevens from 2005 to 2017, has died aged 79. As the local priest he often shared scenes with Dot Cotton, played by June Brown, who died in 2022 and was a familiar face at Walford christenings, marriages and funerals.‌He appeared to officiate some of the soap's most recent deaths, being seen leading the prayers at the graveside as Ronnie Mitchell's funeral in 2017, with mourners including Jack and Max Branning looking on.‌READ MORE: EastEnders star Jill Halfpenny's 'disappointment' at being suddenly axed from soapREAD MORE: EastEnders abruptly reveal 5 exits as devastated fans beg favourites not to goOver a long career, Michael appeared in some of the biggest shows on British telly. He was only actor to appear in all 52 episodes of sci-fi drama series Blake 7 as the criminal mastermind Vila Restal.‌He also appeared in another sci-fi fit appearing in an early Doctor Who story called The Sun Makers and the audio drama The Twilight Kingdom.Born in North London in 1947, Michael began his acting career in 1966 and went on to have roles in enduring hits including Yes Minister, The Bill, Casualty and London's Burning. His final TV role was in a 2009 episode of Midsomer Murders called The Dogleg Murders as Derek Painter, a friend of the Barnabys.Article continues belowSci-fi fans paid tribute to Michael tonight, with one writing: “Very sad to hear that Michael Keating has passed away. A genuinely lovely man, and he was absolutely brilliant in every single episode of Blake’s 7. RIP.”Another said: "Very sad news. Michael Keating has died aged 79. Loved him as Vila in Blake’s 7, and so many other roles ranging from EastEnders to Yes Minister.”A third referred to his role as a Blake's 7 baddie posting: “Michael Keating the best thief in the galaxy. Another childhood hero gone. And Vila was a hero! RIP”Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌BBC1EastEndersSoap operas