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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Charlotte Tutton

EastEnders: How did Pauline and Arthur Fowler die? What happened to Mark?

EastEnders has been replaying past episodes of the BBC soap on the Drama channel.

While there's some familiar faces still in Albert Square, there are plenty of characters from back in the day that viewers may never have seen before.

Several icons still live in Walford, while other legendary characters are no longer there - but some relatives remain.

One family currently taking centre stage in the episodes from the 90s currently airing on Drama are the Fowlers.

This family is just as iconic and relevant now too, but what happened to the original Fowlers?

EastEnders' The Fowlers: Arthur, Pauline and Martin (BBC)

Who was Arthur Fowler and how did he die?

Arthur Fowler was an original character on the show when it first aired in 1985.

The character, played by actor Bill Treacher, was the husband of Pauline, and father to Mark, Martin and Michelle - an original family on the Square.

Arthur Fowler with wife Pauline on EastEnders in 1985 (BBC)

Arthur was killed off on the soap in 1996, and he died from a brain haemorrhage after sustaining a head injury while in prison.

Martin's stepson Arthur is named after the legendary character.

How did Pauline Fowler die, and when did she leave?

Pauline Fowler was killed off in 2006 (BBC)

After Arthur's death, Pauline remained on the BBC soap for 10 more years before her tragic exit in 2006.

Pauline suffered a very similar fate with the same cause of death as her husband, a brain haemorrhage.

In a nod to the past, Pauline was attacked by new husband Joe who hit her across the head with a frying pan, later causing the haemorrhage.

Pauline had hit Arthur over the head with a frying pan in a now iconic EastEnders scene over a decade earlier.

Sadly, actress Wendy Richard passed away in 2009, three years after her character, following a battle with breast cancer.

What happened to their son Mark Fowler?

EastEnders: Mark Fowler died in 2004 (BBC)

Mark Fowler was another original Fowler in Walford, played by actor Todd Carty.

The character was famously diagnosed as HIV-positive in a huge storyline in 1991, making him the first mainstream soap character to be diagnosed with the condition.

He left the BBC soap in 2003 after reportedly being axed.

In 2004, the character was confirmed to have died off-screen after succumbing to an AIDS-related illness. His funeral was held in Walford.

Which Fowler members are still in Walford?

Martin Fowler still lives in Walford (BBC / Kieron McCarron)

Mark's brother Martin Fowler, who was born on the soap, is still living in Walford, with his ex Sonia Fowler.

Their daughter Bex Fowler recently left Walford.

His sister Michelle made a brief return back in 2016, before leaving again in 2018 - it's thought she is with daughter Vicki, while she also has a son, Mark Fowler Jr.

Martin's estranged wife Stacey Fowler and their daughter Hope, as well as Stacey's daughter Lily, are currently away from the Square - while Martin's stepson Arthur lives with his dad Kush Kazemi.

EastEnders airs Mondays at 8pm and Tuesdays at 7:30pm on BBC One.

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