June Brown – EastEnders – Age 94

June Brown was already in her late 50s when she was cast in the then-fledgling soap opera EastEnders in the ‘80s. But that didn’t stop her from achieving several impressive feats during her time in Albert Square. She won three British Soap Awards and became the first actor to ever carry an entire soap episode alone in 2008.

But alas! Even good things come to an end. Brown announced that she has left her post as Dot Cotton in 2020 and her decision remained firm despite a spokesman assuring that she’d be welcome to return. Her departure also comes a year after it was reported that her health was declining.