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Actress Samantha Janus was devastated today after her father was found hanged in his council flat.
Janus, who plays Ronnie Mitchell in EastEnders, burst into tears after leaving the flat clutching some of her father Noel's possessions.
Mr Janus, 60, who is believed to have suffered depression, was discovered in his bathroom in Brighton on Saturday by a worried friend.
Janus, 36, was too upset to comment. Her actor husband Mark Womack said: "She asks to be left alone to grieve with her family."
Mr Janus, the brother of George Best's ex-wife Angie, was a singer songwriter who had worked with bands including Fleetwood Mac. He separated from his wife Diana, a former model, when Janus was aged about six and had a strained relationship with his daughter.
It was claimed today that he had previously been upset by being left out of magazine photographs of Janus's recent wedding. He had been invited but did not walk his daughter down the aisle or make a speech.
None of the photographs which subsequently appeared in OK! magazine showed Mr Janus. He is said to have described the alleged snub as a "dagger to the heart".
Janus, who was born in Brighton, has spoken fondly of her father. "I remember sitting on my father's knee with him playing the acoustic guitar," she once said in an interview.
Reader views (4)
As a sufferer of depression since I was 17, now some 40 years, it is common to suffer from waves of depression 4 or 5 times a year.
The irony is that the medication can lead to thought of suicide, and indeed I have his happen to me many times inclusing this weekend.
Whay you need is the understanding of your famliy and friends but that is not often possible.
Suicide is not a cowardice action, but a point is reached when it becomes the only of escaping the ravages of this terrible illness.
I hope that Samantha finds emotional healing soon.
God Bless.
Alan
- Alan, Peterborough, 24/08/2009 20:07
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Paul, taxation is high enough thank you. If tycoons pay less tax than their cleaners your answer is tax the rich. Put a block on the extravagant MPs who have forgotten what they were elected to do and it wasn't to have their salaries boosted at the expense of tax payers which is parasitic theft. The money wasted in these two areas alone should be put better use ie. to support the mental health services of this country.
- Kaz, London, 24/08/2009 20:01
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Very sad indeed. But ironic that "Peace Maker" is demanding more is done about mental health and yet leaves a message today on the story about Tories failing to support Cameron on the NHS. I fear the very people who complain "more needs to be done" are often the first to whinge if a politician came along and raised taxes to deal with the truth about under-funding and crumbling buildings in psychiatric wards and across local community mental health services.
- Paul, london, 24/08/2009 12:11
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"But neighbours today said he had been in good spirits just before his death" - Its so often the way, as though the individual has come to terms with the decision made and is just waiting for the time to do it. Very sad, indeed. We need to do more about mental health.
- Peace Maker, Battersea, 24/08/2009 10:24
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