Jack Dalton (EastEnders)
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- This article is about Jack Dalton from EastEnders; if you are looking for Jack Dalton from MacGyver, see the article entitled Jack Dalton (MacGyver)
| EastEnders character | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Jack Dalton | |
| Portrayed by | Hywel Bennett |
| Duration | 2003 |
| Date of death | 18 July 2003 |
| Marital status | Deceased |
| Occupation | Club Manager/Gangster |
Jack Dalton was a fictional character in the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders. He was played by Hywel Bennett.
He first appeared in the show in 2003, although the events surrounding the apparent death of the character Dennis Watts in 1989 were then retconned to include him.
Dalton was a fearsome gangland boss, and as head of The Firm, he was responsible for ordering Den's death.
In the late 1980s, Den had become involved with "Walford Investments", aka "The Firm", and was forced to become the titular manager of Strokes wine bar (formerly Henry's), which was owned by The Firm and was really a front for illegal gambling.
Strokes had a rival bar in the form of The Dagmar, fronted by James Wilmott-Brown, who went on to rape Kathy Beale, the wife of Den's best friend. Den used his connections with "The Firm" to arrange for The Dagmar to be torched.
The fire drew attention to the illegal goings-on at Strokes, and thus greatly angered The Firm. Den refused to take the blame and The Firm believed that he had grassed them up to the police.
Consequently Dalton decided to have Den murdered. In one of the series' most famous exits, Den was shot as he walked by the canal by a Firm lackey with a gun hidden in a bunch of daffodils. Den apparently drowned in the canal, and a year later a body was found by the police.
As Den was not seen falling into the water (the viewers only heard a shot and a splash) the series was able to resurrect him 14 years later. In 2003 it was revealed that Den had indeed been shot, but the shot had only wounded him and was he able to escape to Spain where he forged a new life. The body which had been found, wrongly-idenitified and buried had actually been the body of the unseen Mr. Vinnicombe, who had been Dalton's predecessor as head of the Firm during the 80s.
It was said that Dalton had been displeased with Vinnicombe's inability to murder Den, and so had had him killed and dumped in the canal (his teeth were then bricked out to prevent dental indentification) - implying a power struggle for control of "The Firm" at this time. Upon Vinnicombe's demise, Dalton was able to gain control of the organisation.
By the 1990s, many of Jack's loyal gangland allies had turned against him. Jack had just got too big for his own good. He responded drastically to attempts on his life - none of his former associates were ever seen again. (Source: BBC Character Profile)
By 2003, Jack had managed to firmly establish himself as The Firm's boss, and was now operating from his nightclub; The Imperial Room. During his brief spell on screen he showed a Machiavellian and ruthless streak: he ordered Spencer Moon beaten up (although it was Alfie who took the beating pretending to be his brother) for using forged currency in his club and then ordered the murder of one of his most loyal employees Dennis Rickman (who unbeknown to him was Den's illegitimate son).
Unfortunately for Dalton, Dennis managed to convince his would-be killer (Phil Mitchell) that he would murder Dalton himself. Armed with a gun Dennis forced Dalton to drive into the woods where he duly murdered him. Before dying, Jack revealed the truth about Den Watts; that he was in fact alive.
