Terry Sue-Patt, who played Benny Green in children's TV series Grange Hill, has been found dead in a Walthamstow flat.
The actor appeared in the BBC programme between 1978 and 1982.
Police forced their way into a flat in Northcote Road at 1.45pm on Friday when concerns were raised about the occupant and found the body of a man in his 50s
A Met spokesman said the death was not being treated as suspicious.
Former Grange Hill cast members and numerous others paid tribute to the actor on Twitter.
Erkan Mustafa, who played alonside Sue-Patt as Rollo in the TV series, tweeted: "Rip terry sue patt aka #bennygreen#grangehill legend you will be missed by true friends".
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