He was once considered one of television’s most acclaimed actors, with iconic roles on EastEnders and Heartbeat.
But Nick Berry has turned his back on acting in recent years and recently stunned with his defaced appearance on a trip to his local baker’s.
The 60-year-old actor, previously considered one of cinema’s biggest heartthrobs, left his career at its peak to focus on being a homemaker for his two children.
38 years later, Nick’s looks, with his bushy beard and shock of silver hair, are a far cry from his TV heyday.
His last acting role came in 2012, when he briefly reprized his EastEnders character to attend his mother Pat Butcher’s on-screen funeral.
Blast from the past! Nick Berry has turned his back on acting in recent years and recently stunned with his defaced appearance on a trip to his local baker’s
Iconic: The actor is best known for his role as heartthrob Simon Wicks on EastEnders, appearing in the soap’s first episode in 1985
Family: But Nick, who married his wife Rachel Robertson in 1994, turned his back on his career and focused on serving as a home husband for his two sons, who are now in their 20s
Nick had a distinguished acting career on British television but left the screen at the age of 39 to raise his two sons.
He first rose to fame as Simon Wicks on ‘EastEnders’ in 1985, appearing in the very first episode of the soap alongside icons Dirty Den Watts, Lofty and Kathy Beale.
During his five years at Albert Square, he quickly became one of the soap opera’s most popular characters.
One of his most famous storylines came about when he became involved in a heated affair with Cindy Beale, which sparked an explosive feud with her husband Ian.
The constant tension between the two eventually led to Simon leaving Walford with Cindy and their son, and years later it was revealed he had settled in New Zealand.
Nick left the soap in 1990 and moved to the Yorkshire Dales for six years as Heartbeat’s Sergeant Nick Rowan before taking on the role of harbor master Mike Nicholls in Harbor Lights.
He reached heartthrob status when hordes of screaming fans besieged the BBC studios where the soap was filmed.
There was even a brief pop career: in 1986, Berry released a single, “Every Loser Wins”, which became the second best-selling record in the UK that year.
Beloved: During his five-year tenure at Albert Square, he quickly became one of the soap’s most popular characters
music star! There was even a brief pop career: in 1986, Berry released a single, “Every Loser Wins”, which became the second best-selling record in the UK that year
Movie star: Nick left the soap opera in 1990 and moved to the Yorkshire Dales for six years as Heartbeat’s Sergeant Nick Rowan
Berry disappeared from the scene except for the filming of the police drama “In Deep” with cop Liam Ketman opposite Stephen Tompkinson, which ran from 2001 to 2003.
He married his wife, actress Rachel Robertson, in 1994 and they moved to Essex, where he left acting and became a home husband to his two sons, Louis, now 27, and Finley, 24.
He had previously dated fellow EastEnders Gillian Taylforth, who played Kathy Beale, but the couple eventually split in 1988.
Rumor has it that Nick was once offered a £2million gold handcuffs deal by EastEnders executives when he resigned in the late 1980s.
During his time in the spotlight, he is said to have amassed an estimated £5million – enough to fund a sprawling home in Epping, Essex, and a beach house in Hove.
Speaking to the Chron in 2011 about his decision to step down from the spotlight, he said: “I made a choice to be a stay-at-home dad and I’ve loved it…”
“I always said I could go back to when the boys were teenagers, but the longer you don’t do something, the harder it gets to do, and I haven’t really missed it.” While I would never say never, but I’m really happy the way I am.”
Family time: He married his wife, actress Rachel Robertson, in 1994 and they moved to Epping in Essex (pictured at their wedding).
Time out: Speaking to the Chron in 2011 about his decision to step down from the spotlight, Nick (pictured at the time) said: ‘I made a choice to be a stay-at-home dad and it’s made me very happy liked.”
“The work was great. They drive you everywhere, give you something to eat every five minutes and tell you what to do and where to go. What bothered me was that the guys were very young and I felt like I was on the road filming all the time…
“I was blessed with these little people and yet I wasn’t really there.” I realized I wanted to be home.’
Despite his spectacular film success, East London-born Berry said he was not a born actor.
He said, “I’ve never felt so comfortable in the limelight.” Some egos can be dispensed with. “A lot of actors take themselves so seriously, but by and large you get paid to show off.”