EastEnders' Archie is Larry Lamb's dad
Wednesday, 21st October 2009.
The sinister nature of EastEnders villain Archie Mitchell was inspired Larry Lamb's father, the actor has revealed.
Viewers have watched Archie wreak havoc through Albert Square since his arrival last year and Lamb's says his character's demeanour is based on his troubled dad Ronald.
The 66-year-old told PA:"From the start I based Archie Mitchell on my father. My dad was a very screwed up man and emotionally damaged from his childhood.
"He had a terrible relationship with his own father and I imagine it was the same for the generations before that.
"Just like Archie, my dad was absolutely convinced of his rightness and his sanity and thought he was completely justified in everything he did. Everybody else is at fault, but he's fine.
"Archie is the same. As far as he's concerned, he's perfectly sane. But the truth is, he's twisted. That twisted, dark, nasty side of me comes from my father."
More than 15 years
Larry's parents separated when he was a child and when Ronald died in 2008, Larry hadn't spoken to him for over 15 years.
He added: "Our relationship got worse and worse, year after year. It got to the point where things were never put right between us. I could never take him seriously.
"He was a skilled psychological bully. He would loom over me and threaten, threaten, threaten. I lived in fear of him. He was a crazy man."
The current 'Enders storyline sees devious Archie trying to take over the Queen Vic with scheming Janine Butcher.
But he'll only be around for a few more months - Archie will be killed-off in the BBC soap's big Christmas Day shocker.
Photo: MJ Kim/Getty
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