THE family of late EastEnders legend Tony Caunter have paid poignant tribute following the actor's tragic death.
The star, who played Roy Evans in the beloved soap, passed away yesterday aged 88.
And the late actor's family have released a statement celebrating their "hugely loved father".
A statement from Caunter's family to the PA news agency said: "It is with enormous sadness that we bring the curtain down on our wonderful and hugely loved father, Tony Caunter, who died peacefully yesterday evening, just eight days after his beloved wife of 63 years, Fran, also passed away.
"Dad was 88 years old.
"After a long and fulfilling life on and off screen and stage, Tony leaves a daughter and three sons, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
"He will be missed by all."
The family added: "We would like to thank the NHS staff at Eastbourne District General Hospital for their incredible care during his final hours, and to everyone at Eastbourne Gardens nursing home for the care and compassion they have given dad over the past two months."
Tony Caunter's passing comes just eight days after his wife Fran sadly passed away last week.
The couple were married for 63 years and are survived by their four children.
The British actor was known for his roles as Jack Shepherd in the Yorkshire Television sitcom Queenie's Castle in the early 1970s and as DCI Jim Logan in the first three seasons of Juliet Bravo.
He also appeared in the Doctor Who stories The Crusade in 1965, Colony in Space in 1971 and Enlightenment in 1983.
He also appeared in the TV drama series Boon, which starred EastEnders' Michael Elphick.
A statement from EastEnders said: "It is with great sadness that we learn of the passing of Tony Caunter.
"Tony will forever be loved and respected by everyone at EastEnders for his warmth, kindness and humour as well as being greatly remembered by all those at home who instantly took Roy to their hearts.
"Roy will always be remembered for his great love of Pat, despite him famously declaring his distaste in her choice of earrings, which gave us all one of Walford's greatest love affairs.
"Tony will never be forgotten by all those who worked alongside him for many years and everyone at EastEnders sends their love and condolences to Tony's family and friends."
Fans also flocked to social media to pay their respects to the legend.
One EastEnders viewer wrote: "Tony Caunter was a reliable TV face, equally comfortable on either side of the law: always extremely dependable.
"That he was then rewarded with household name status in Eastenders was a deserved cherry on his acting cake.
"I visited at home some years back and he was lovely. RIP."
A second wrote: "We've lost another versatile character actor. Tony will be best remembered for his long running stint on EastEnders as Roy Evans.
"Among his many other credits Tony appeared in Doctor Who 3 times. R.I.P. Tony Caunter."
A third said: "Tony will forever be loved and respected by everyone at EastEnders for his warmth, kindness and humour as well as being greatly remembered by all those at home who instantly took Roy to their hearts.
"Roy will always be remembered for his great love of Pat, despite him famously declaring his distaste in her choice of earrings, which gave us all one of Walford's greatest love affairs.
"Tony will never be forgotten by all those who worked alongside him for many years and everyone at EastEnders sends their love and condolences to Tony's family and friends."
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