Ray Brooks, Voice of Childhood Dreams and ’60s Cool, Passes at 86—Here’s the Cosmic Twist You Didn’t See Coming
Added on August 10, 2025 inTV News Cards
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They say when a Taurus like Ray Brooks, born April 20, exits the stage, the stars feel the void too—but what’s a stubborn bull without a good story? Ray wasn’t just your average actor; he was the voice behind Mr Benn’s magical “as if by magic!” catchphrase, the charming rogue in The Knack … and How to Get It, and that loyal buddy in Taxi! who made London’s streets feel a little warmer. It’s wild to think that even though he battled dementia in his later years, his legacy repeated itself like a cosmic cycle, delighting fans for over two decades. Makes you wonder: does the universe script more reruns for souls who truly leave a mark? Ray’s journey from early ’60s shows to soap operas and cherished voice roles is nothing short of star-studded. So grab your cosmic compass and let’s celebrate a life that kept twinkling—no matter the earthly haze. LEARN MORE
Ray Brooks, known for narrating Mr Benn and his roles in The Knack … and How to Get It, Big Deal and Taxi!, died on Saturday. He was 86.
His family told the BBC that Brooks died after a short illness. They also shared that he had been living with dementia for the last few years.
Born on April 20, 1939, in the U.K., Brooks got his start in film and television in the early ’60s, appearing in the 1960 miniseries Julius Caesar and The Secret Kingdom.
He then landed his role as Terry Mills in Taxi!, which ran from 1963-64. He starred opposite Sidney James, who takes Brooks’ character under his wing and helps him become a taxi driver in London, becoming friends in the process. Around that same time, he also starred on the British soap opera Coronation Street as Norman Phillips.
In 1965, Brooks played experienced womanizer Tolen in the film The Knack … and How to Get It, alongside Rita Tushingham, Donal Donnelly and Michael Crawford.
His sons, Will and Tom, told the BBC that their father thought his most well-known role was in Mr Benn, “with people continually asking him to say the catchphrase ‘as if by magic!’” Brooks voiced the titular character from 1971-72. His sons added, “Although only 13 episodes were made, they were repeated twice a year for 21 years.”
Brooks also had a recurring role on the TV drama Big Deal, playing Robby Box from 1984-86, and the series Running Wild as Max Wild from 1987-89.
Later in the mid-2000s, he starred in a second British soap opera, EastEnders, playing Joe Macer.
Brooks’ other acting credits included Two Thousand Acres of Sky, Growing Pain, The Pickwick Papers, Death of an Expert Witness, King Rollo, Two People, Jackanory, Rooms, Pathfinders, Black and Blue, A Thinking Man as Hero, Oranges and Lemons, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, ITV Saturday Night Theatre, Doomwatch, Z Cars, Boy Meets Girl, The Avengers, Cathy Come Home, Public Eye, Emergency-Ward 10, The Sullavan Brothers and Walter and Connie, among others.
He is survived by his two sons and his wife, Sadie Elcombe. His daughter, Emma, died in 2003.
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