Who was Reg Cox in EastEnders? Character’s tragic history explained

Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) realized that Phil was in a troubled state, even if she doesn’t yet know that he’s begun experiencing hallucinations.

Worried that Phil might be withdrawing from others, Sharon remembered an old neighbor who experienced a very sad fate.

“I say old, he was probably our age – Reg Cox,” Sharon explained.

He was really miserable and avoided others. It took three days for anyone to realize he had passed away. I won’t let that happen to you, Phil. You need to make sure you stay connected with people.

Phil could only retort: “Nick Cotton knew he’d died…”

As the BBC soap opera marks its 40th anniversary this month, we delve into the tale of struggling character Reg.

So, read on below as we look into who Reg was, and what exactly happened to him.

Who was Reg Cox in EastEnders and what happened to him?

Played by Johnnie Clayton, Reg was a pensioner who lived alone on Albert Square.

In the background story of EastEnders’ debut scene, Andrew Johnson as Saeed Jeffery informed Leslie Grantham’s Den Watts that Reg hadn’t visited Naima’s (Shreela Ghosh) shop on Bridge Street for his regular milk purchase over the past three days.

In a different version, Arthur Fowler (Bill Treacher), Ali Osman (Nejdet Salih), and Den forced open the apartment’s door, with Den remarking, “Doesn’t it smell bad in here?

They found Reg laying unconscious in his chair, and an ambulance was called.

Unfortunately, Reg passed away due to injuries from a brutal attack that were undetected at the time he was discovered.

Eventually, it came to light that the character Nick Cotton, portrayed by John Altman, attempted to rob Reg and in the process, assaulted him, specifically targeting his military honors.

Among the residents of Walford, Reg was not well-liked due to his being perceived as crabby, unhappy, and unkind.

In 2014, Nick used the name Reg Cox as an alias after faking his own death.

Exactly one year later, Nick met his end at the exact location where Reg had been discovered. Tragically, he passed away from a heroin overdose, following his confession of Reg’s murder to Dot Branning, played by June Brown.

At the age of 59, Reg had only a few years more than Phil currently has; and Sharon’s mention of him demonstrates the hardships faced by individuals like Reg in 1985, as they navigated life without the resources available for support today.

There’s a glimmer of optimism as Grant Mitchell (played by Ross Kemp), Phil’s brother, returns home to lend a hand. Perhaps this will aid Phil in navigating his struggle against depression.

Should you find yourself requiring assistance or advice related to the topics discussed in this article, feel free to check out Samaritans, CALM, and Rethink Mental Illness for their valuable insights.