Reginald Kray – Biography, Wives, Death and Last Photo

Reginald Kray, known as Reggie, was one half of the Kray twins, the most notorious gangsters to emerge from London’s East End in the 20th century. Alongside his twin brother Ronnie, he ran a criminal empire built on protection rackets, illegal gambling, and violence that terrorised parts of the capital from the 1950s until their arrest in 1968. His life took turns that included two marriages, a murder conviction, and a brief, final release from prison before his death from cancer in 2000.

Born in Haggerston in 1933, Reggie grew up in a working-class family with his older brother Charlie and twin Ronnie. The twins began their criminal activities young and by the 1960s had become celebrities of the underworld, photographed with politicians, actors, and nightclub owners. Their reputation for violence was matched by a certain public fascination that has persisted long after their imprisonment.

Reggie Kray died on 1 October 2000 in Norwich, just eight weeks after being released from prison on compassionate grounds. He was 66. His death marked the end of a life that had moved from poverty and crime to notoriety and, in his final weeks, a fragile freedom.

Who Was Reginald Kray?

• Reginald Kray was one half of the infamous Kray twins, who dominated London’s East End organised crime in the 1950s and 1960s.
• He was married twice: first to Frances Shea (m. 1965–1967, her death) and later to Roberta Jones (m. 1997–2000, his death).
• Reggie Kray was released from prison on compassionate grounds in August 2000 and died just over a month later.
• Despite his criminal life, Reggie Kray became a celebrity figure, with his life and crimes depicted in films and books.

Reggie Kray was the younger twin by a few minutes, though the brothers were identical. Their father, Charles Kray Senior, was a rag-and-bone man with little money, and the family lived in cramped conditions in the East End. The twins started boxing as teenagers and soon moved into petty crime before building a more serious operation. By the early 1960s they ran nightclubs, including the famous Esmeralda’s Barn in Knightsbridge, and ran protection rackets across London. Their criminal career is well documented in sources such as Wikipedia’s Kray twins page and Biography.com’s profile of Reggie Kray.

Who Was Reggie Kray’s Wife?

Reggie Kray was married twice. His first wife was Frances Shea, a young woman from a respectable family in Bethnal Green. They married in April 1965 when Reggie was 31 and Frances was 22. The marriage quickly became troubled, with Frances reportedly struggling with the pressures of being married to a gangster and the violence that surrounded the Kray circle.

Frances Kray: A Tragic Story

Frances Shea died on 7 June 1967, at the age of 23. The inquest ruled her death a suicide, concluding that she had taken an overdose of pills. Some accounts have suggested that the circumstances were not fully clear and that foul play may have been involved, but no evidence has emerged to support such theories. Her death deeply affected Reggie, who is said to have mourned her for years and kept her photograph with him in prison.

Roberta Jones: The Second Wife

While serving his life sentence, Reggie Kray married Roberta Jones on 14 July 1997. The ceremony took place inside the prison. Roberta, a writer and journalist, had corresponded with Reggie and later visited him. She remained married to him until his death in 2000. After his death, Roberta Kray published books about her husband and the Kray family.

Reggie Kray had no known children from either marriage. This is noted across biographical sources, including the London Museum’s Kray twins exhibit, which describes the gangsters’ personal lives alongside their criminal careers.

How Did Reggie Kray Die?

Reggie Kray died from bladder cancer on 1 October 2000. He had been diagnosed with terminal bladder cancer earlier that year, and on 26 August 2000 he was released from prison on compassionate grounds by then Home Secretary Jack Straw. He spent his final weeks in a Norwich hotel with his wife Roberta, before dying at the age of 66.

Release from Prison and Final Days

Reggie had served 32 years of a life sentence for the murder of Jack McVitie. His release made national headlines. Photographs taken as he left prison show a frail man in a suit, leaning on a cane. These images, widely published at the time, are the most recognised from his final days.

Where Did Reggie Kray Die?

He died in Norwich, Norfolk. Some sources specify a hotel in the city; others refer more generally to a Norwich hospital or hospice. The location is recorded consistently as Norwich in biographical accounts, including records held by The National Archives and historical news coverage such as BBC News reports on his release and death.

Who Was Ronald Kray and How Did He Differ from Reggie?

Ronald “Ronnie” Kray was Reggie’s identical twin brother, born just minutes before him on 24 October 1933. Although physically identical, the twins had different personalities. Ronnie was widely described as more volatile, paranoid, and prone to violent outbursts, while Reggie was often seen as more controlled and charismatic. In practice, both were capable of extreme violence.

The twins worked closely together, running their criminal operations as a partnership. Ronnie was charged with murdering George Cornell in 1966, and both brothers were convicted for the murder of Jack McVitie in 1969. Ronnie died in Broadmoor Hospital on 17 March 1995, at the age of 61, from a heart attack. He had never been released from prison.

Who Were Charlie Kray and Gary Kray?

Charlie Kray was the older brother of Reggie and Ronnie, born in 1926. He was involved in the family’s criminal activities, though never as central a figure as the twins. In 1997, Charlie was convicted of drug trafficking and sentenced to 12 years in prison. He died on 4 April 2000, just months before Reggie.

Gary Kray is Charlie Kray’s son and therefore the nephew of Reggie and Ronnie. He has occasionally appeared in media related to the Kray family, speaking about their legacy. He is sometimes mistakenly thought to be Reggie’s son, but Reggie had no children. The Kray family line continued solely through Charlie’s son Gary.

When Did the Key Events in Reggie Kray’s Life Take Place?

1. 24 October 1933: Birth of Reginald and Ronald Kray in Haggerston, East London.
2. 1950s: The twins begin their criminal career, running protection rackets and clubs.
3. 1960s: Rise to prominence as celebrities of the London underworld.
4. 20 April 1965: Reggie Kray marries Frances Shea.
5. 7 June 1967: Frances Shea dies, aged 23, from an overdose ruled as suicide.
6. 28 October 1967: Reggie Kray murders Jack “the Hat” McVitie in Stoke Newington.
7. 1968: Arrest of the Kray twins for murder.
8. 1969: Convicted of murder; sentenced to life imprisonment with a 30-year minimum.
9. 14 July 1997: Reggie Kray marries Roberta Jones while in prison.
10. 26 August 2000: Released from prison due to terminal illness.
11. 1 October 2000: Dies in Norwich.

What Is Known and What Remains Uncertain About Reggie Kray?

What Was the Historical Significance of the Kray Twins?

The Kray twins operated in a period when London’s East End was a hub of illegal gambling, protection rackets, and violence. Their celebrity status was partly due to their connections with politicians and entertainers, as well as the glamour of 1960s London. Reggie Kray, despite his violent reputation, was often portrayed as the more charismatic half of the pair. His life after prison was brief, ending shortly after release. The Kray legacy remains a subject of fascination in true crime and British history, sustained by films, books, and ongoing public interest in the era of the East End gangsters. For a look at other figures connected to London’s criminal and entertainment history, see the article on Mike Reid – EastEnders Actor vs Chef, Cause of Death and Career.

Where Does Information About Reggie Kray Come From?

The most authoritative sources on Reggie Kray include the comprehensive Wikipedia entry on the Kray twins, the Biography.com profile curated by professional editors, and the London Museum’s permanent exhibit on the twins’ lives and crimes. These sources draw on court records, contemporary news reporting, and biographical research. The National Archives in the UK holds official criminal records and court documents related to the case.

“Reggie was the more reserved of the two, but equally capable of violence.”

— Biographer, quoted in biographical sources

“I’ve always been a gangster, I’ll die a gangster.”

— Reggie Kray (attributed)

These quotations appear in multiple biographical accounts and are widely attributed to a biographer and to Reggie Kray himself. They reflect the public portrayal of a man who accepted his identity as a gangster without apology.

What Is the Final Verdict on Reginald Kray’s Life?

Reginald Kray was a convicted murderer and a central figure in London’s organised crime scene for nearly two decades. His life, from a tough East End childhood to a celebrated criminal career and a long prison sentence, ended just weeks after his release in 2000. His name remains synonymous with a particular era of British gangster history, and his story continues to be told in documentaries, biographies, and dramatisations. Readers interested in another notable figure from the same period may also find the article on Tom Wilkinson – Biography, Cause of Death and Filmography of value.

Frequently Asked Questions About Reginald Kray