Bergerac star died 'penniless and on benefits' in tiny flat despite Hollywood fame

A Hollywood icon who shot to fame in shows like Bergerac and films like West of Zanzibar and Another Man's Poison reportedly died penniless and surviving off benefits. Anthony Steel, born in 1920, passed away in 2001 at the age of 80 after a high-profile marriage to fellow actor Anita Ekberg.

The English actor and singer starred in numerous British war flicks like The Wooden Horse and Where No Vultures Fly. He had enlisted in the Grenadier Guards during World War II, making nine operational jumps as a parachutist and finishing the war as a major. By the late 1940s and early 50s he was starring in films - but by the 80s he was broke and living in a tiny flat.

By the 80s Anthony was acting in pantomimes and living in a small flat in Northolt, west London. His agent David Daly said that he "withdrew into himself" and "wouldn't contact anybody".

Though Sir John Mills tried his best to rehouse Steel through the Actors Benevolent Fund, the star always refused. He said in 1997: "This is a very difficult time for me. You can see that by where I'm living.

"I know a lot of people are trying to find out where I am, but to be honest that's how I want it. I want to be left alone. I don't want to see any of my old friends from my old life. I've been quite ill lately and it's too much for me to go back to it all now.

"Of course I have regrets, but there is nothing anyone can do to change the past. I just want to get on with it."

Just before his death, he moved into retirement home Denville Hall, but until then was "living off social security", according to the Borehamwood and Elstree Times.

Anthony was married three times, including to actress Anita Ekberg, who didn't attend his funeral. Anita also tragically died penniless at the age of 83 in 2015.