Ross Kemp shared the heartbreaking news of his father, John Kemp’s passing at 88 years old. The renowned EastEnders star paid homage to his late father in a touching social media post before his funeral, praising John as his “hero and role model”. Accompanied by a black-and-white photo of his father in military attire, Ross captioned the post with, “John Kemp 1937–2025. Served his country, served his community, served his family. My hero. Love you always, Dad.”
Expressing admiration for his father’s virtues, Ross reflected on John’s character, mentioning, “Burying my Dad tomorrow. My hero, my role model, and a great dancer!” The heartfelt tribute garnered an outpouring of condolences from supporters and colleagues, with former EastEnders co-star James Farrar commenting, “Mate. What beautiful words. For a beautiful bloke,” and actress Patsy Palmer sending love to Ross and his family.
John, a former Metropolitan Police officer, had a significant impact on Ross’s upbringing in Barking, Essex, alongside his mother Jean, a hairdresser. Recalling his childhood, Ross humorously remarked, “I take after both my parents – I can grill you then I can ask where you’re going on your holiday.” Despite his father’s profession, Ross pursued acting instead of following in John’s footsteps, landing his breakthrough role in Emmerdale after studying at the Douglas Webber Academy of Acting.
In a poignant moment earlier this year on BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are?, Ross emotionally explored his family’s military background, shedding tears as he learned about his ancestors’ sacrifices. Beyond his television career, Ross is a devoted advocate for the armed forces, a cause possibly influenced by his father’s service. Last year, he trained with the Gurkhas to raise funds for the Royal British Legion, emphasizing the importance of honoring those affected by mental trauma from military experiences.
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