Dave Courtney, a former London gangster-turned-actor, has passed away at the age of 64. The actor and author, who claimed to be an associate of the notorious Kray twins, was found dead at his home in Plumstead on Sunday morning. A post on his Instagram account announced that Courtney “took his own life”. His family said that he lived “an incredible, colourful rock ‘n’ roll life in which he touched the hearts of so many”, however, “The physical pain of living the lifestyle he chose, especially due to the pain of both cancer and arthritis in his later years, became too much.”
After swapping his life of crime, Courtney became an author and actor, publishing six books and starring in a film called Hell To Pay. He was even rumoured to be the inspiration behind Vinnie Jones’s character “Big Chris” in Guy Ritchie’s gangster film Lock, Stock, And Two Smoking Barrels. In an interview with BBC London last year, Courtney said, “The word gangster is a very historical word. Today definitely is not the time to try and be a gangster… you’re trying to beat technology and you can’t do that.”
Courtney was a prominent figure throughout his life, with a mural painted on the side of his house that depicted the Kray twins, Roy Shaw, Ronnie Biggs, and John Gotti, among others. He dubbed his home Camelot Castle and appeared to enjoy watching Charlton Athletic on the weekend. The police confirmed that the death is being investigated and is being treated as unexpected. Courtney’s family have been informed of the news and no arrests have been made.
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