Actor Harry Towb, who recently appeared in EastEnders as Janine Butcher's elderly Jewish fiance, has died of cancer aged 83. Towb - who featured in two episodes of the soap late last year - was born in Larne, County Antrim and grew up in Belfast. He started out with theatrical groups there before moving to England in the 1950s. A veteran of the small screen, Towb also appeared in a string of well-known TV shows including Z Cars, The Avengers, Casualty, Heartbeat and The Bill. In EastEnders, he played the role of David, a wealthy elderly Jewish man who was conned into marrying Janine, after she took on the role of his carer and converted to Judaism. However the wedding was stopped at the last minute when Pat intervened. He is survived by his wife, actress Diana Hoddinott, three children and three granddaughters. Son Joshua described Towb as a great family man who loved his work. "He loved his family very very much," he said, "but he never liked to be not working."
