‘Doctor Who’ star Michael Keating dead at 79

Michael Keating, best known for his roles in “Doctor Who,” “Blake’s 7” and “EastEnders,” has died. He was 79.

Keating passed away “peacefully at home” on Sunday, April 26, his agent, Dan Ireson, confirmed in a statement to Page Six on Friday.

The British actor was “struggling with dementia” before his passing, Ireson revealed.

Keating was born in Edmonton, Middlesex, on February 10, 1947.

According to his IMDb, Keating’s first acting role was in an episode of the British TV series “Special Branch” in 1969.

He went on to have a notable role in the 1977 “Doctor Who” story “The Sun Makers,” set during the 15th season of the beloved series with Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor.

Keating also lent his voice for multiple “Doctor Who” audio projects produced by Big Finish.

In a statement about Keating’s death, Big Finish dubbed the late star “warm, wily, honest about his own limitations and almost impossible not to love.”

Keating’s big TV break came in 1978 when he landed a starring role as Vila Restal, a skilled thief, in “Blake’s 7.”

The sci-fi show, which aired on the BBC from 1978 to 1981, is about a group of rebels who fight an evil dictatorship that has taken over Earth.

Keating reprised his “Blake’s 7” role in voice form for several podcast series in the 2010s and early 2020s, also produced by Big Finish.

The company’s “Blake 7” producer Peter Anghelides gushed in a statement that it was “a joy” to work with Keating over the years.

“His cheery presence on studio days was always most welcome. I would sit at the back of the Audio Sorcery control room hooting with laughter at his comic timing in our recordings,” he wrote.

Keating also, notably, appeared in 54 episodes of the soap opera “EastEnders” as Reverend George Stevens.

His other TV credits include “The Play on One,” “Kinsey,” “Casualty,” “Midsomer Murders” and more.