Arnold Yarrow

Arnold Yarrow (born 17 April 1920) is a British retired actor, screenwriter and novelist who is best known for his brief role as Jewish bricklayer Benny Bloom in television soap opera EastEnders. Like the character, he is Jewish.

In addition, he is known to Doctor Who fans for his portrayal as diminutive Exxilon leader Bellal in the 1974 serial Death to the Daleks. Following the death of Earl Cameron in July 2020, Yarrow became the oldest living actor to have appeared in Doctor Who. He had previously become the fourth (credited) performer associated with the franchise to become a centenarian after Zohra Sehgal, Olaf Pooley and Cameron.

Other TV appearances include roles in Crane, Ghost Squad, Coronation Street, Dr. Finlay's Casebook, The Onedin Line and London's Burning as well as a part in the 1993 film Son of the Pink Panther.

Yarrow's scriptwriting work includes episodes of Crown Court, Warship, Softly, Softly: Task Force and EastEnders. As well as this, Yarrow has written numerous books such as TV tie-ins like Softly Softly Casebook and Softly Softly Murder Casebook as well as his own novels Death is a Z and The Grease-Paint Monkey.

Yarrow turned 100 in April 2020. He lives in Herne Bay, Kent.

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