Few figures capture the dark allure of London’s East End quite like Reginald Kray. As one half of the infamous Kray twins, Reggie’s life story weaves together amateur boxing, two marriages, a notorious murder conviction, and a 31-year prison stretch. This article looks beyond the gangster label to explore the man behind the headlines—his family, his health battle, and how he compared to his twin brother Ronnie.
Born: 24 October 1933 ·
Died: 1 October 2000 ·
Number of wives: 2 ·
Known for: Gangster activities
Quick snapshot
- Reginald Kray was born on 24 October 1933 in Haggerston, London (Biography.com).
- He was convicted of murdering Jack McVitie in 1968 and sentenced to life imprisonment (Crime+Investigation).
- He married Roberta Jones in 1997 while still in prison (Findmypast).
- He died from bladder cancer on 1 October 2000 (Wikipedia).
- The exact details of Reggie’s amateur boxing record are not consistently reported (History Hit).
- The nature of his relationship with his son Gary is not well documented (Findmypast).
- Whether Reggie was the older twin by 10 minutes is not universally accepted (History Hit).
- The precise timeline of the Kray family’s migration to the East End is not well documented (Findmypast).
- Arrested on 8 May 1968 (Biography.com).
- Found guilty of murder on 8 March 1969 (History Hit).
- Released on compassionate grounds in August 2000 (Biography.com).
- Reggie’s legacy continues through books, documentaries, and the enduring fascination with the Kray twins (Biography.com).
- His son Gary has largely stayed out of public view (Findmypast).
Seven key facts about Reginald Kray, drawn from verified records and biographical sources.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Reginald Kray |
| Born | 24 October 1933, Haggerston, London |
| Died | 1 October 2000, Leicester, England |
| Spouses | Frances Shea (m. 1965–1967), Roberta Jones (m. 1997–2000) |
| Children | Gary Kray (born 1960) |
| Criminal penalty | Life imprisonment (released 2000) |
| Cause of death | Bladder cancer |
What happened to Reginald Kray?
How did Reginald Kray become a gangster?
- Born into a working-class East End family with Irish and Romani roots, Reggie and his twin brother Ronnie grew up in a world where violence and loyalty were currencies (History Hit).
- Both brothers showed promise as teenage boxers (Wikipedia).
- They formed a gang known as “The Firm” that ran protection rackets and managed clubs in the 1950s and 60s (Crime+Investigation).
The pattern: a mix of charisma, intimidation, and a willingness to use extreme violence turned the twins into both celebrities and outlaws.
What crimes did Reginald Kray commit?
- On 27 October 1967, Reggie stabbed Jack McVitie to death at a party in Stoke Newington (Crime+Investigation).
- He also faced charges of extortion, robbery, and assault (Wikipedia).
- At trial in 1969, the jury found him guilty of murder and he was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 30 years (Biography.com).
Reggie’s conviction for McVitie’s murder didn’t just end his career as a gangster—it locked him away for three decades, leaving his brother and his former associates to scramble for control.
The implication: his life story is a study in how early choices and environment can set a relentless trajectory.
Who was tougher, Ronnie or Reggie Kray?
| Attribute | Reggie Kray | Ronnie Kray |
|---|---|---|
| Temperament | Pragmatic and controlled | Suffered from paranoid schizophrenia, more volatile |
| Boxing involvement | Had a few amateur fights but never pursued seriously | Also boxed in youth, more physically aggressive |
| Violence style | Cold calculation, quiet lethality | Volatile instigator, often the aggressor |
- Reggie was considered more pragmatic and controlled, while Ronnie suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and was more volatile (Wikipedia).
- In boxing, Reggie had a few amateur fights but never pursued it seriously (History Hit).
- Ronnie, by contrast, was the more physically aggressive twin and often the instigator of violence (Biography.com).
The implication: while Ronnie’s mental instability made him dangerous, Reggie’s cold calculation made him just as lethal—but in a quieter way.
How many wives did Reggie Kray have?
Did Reggie Kray have a child?
- Reggie married Frances Shea in 1965; she died by suicide in 1967 (Biography.com).
- He married Roberta Jones in 1997 while still in prison (Wikipedia).
- He had a son, Gary, from a relationship before his first marriage (Findmypast).
What did Reggie Kray do to his wife?
- Reggie was convicted of assaulting his first wife Frances Shea (Wikipedia).
- Frances later died of a drug overdose, which was ruled a suicide (Biography.com).
The trade-off: Reggie’s two marriages show a man who could be both a husband and a violent abuser, with his domestic life mirroring the chaos of his criminal world.
What illness did Reggie Kray have?
What was Reginald Kray’s cause of death?
- Reggie was diagnosed with inoperable bladder cancer in his later years (Crime+Investigation).
- He was released on compassionate grounds in August 2000 (Biography.com).
- Reggie died on 1 October 2000 at the age of 66 (Wikipedia).
He spent only a few weeks free before dying—meaning he never truly experienced life outside prison after his conviction.
His health battle ultimately defined his final years.
Did Reggie Kray attend Ronnie’s funeral?
- Ronnie Kray died of a heart attack on 17 March 1995 (Wikipedia).
- Reggie was still serving his sentence but was allowed to attend the funeral under police escort (Crime+Investigation).
What this means: even in death, the Kray twins remained inseparable—Reggie’s final farewell was a closely guarded event, symbolising the bond that defined their lives.
Timeline
- 24 October 1933 – Born in Haggerston, London (Biography.com)
- 1950s – Amateur boxing career (History Hit)
- 1960s – Rise as gangsters; notorious reputation (Wikipedia)
- 27 October 1967 – Murder of Jack McVitie (Crime+Investigation)
- 8 May 1968 – Arrest (Biography.com)
- 8 March 1969 – Trial and life sentence (History Hit)
- 1969–2000 – Imprisonment (Biography.com)
- 17 March 1995 – Ronnie Kray dies (Wikipedia)
- August 2000 – Released on compassionate grounds (Crime+Investigation)
- 1 October 2000 – Dies from bladder cancer (Biography.com)
These dates trace the key moments of Reggie Kray’s life from birth to death.
What we know and what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- Reginald Kray was born 24 October 1933 (Biography.com)
- He was convicted of murdering Jack McVitie (Crime+Investigation)
- He had two wives: Frances Shea and Roberta Jones (Biography.com)
- He died of bladder cancer on 1 October 2000 (Wikipedia)
- He attended Ronnie’s funeral under police escort (Crime+Investigation)
What’s unclear
- Exact boxing record details (History Hit)
- Detailed relationship with son Gary (Findmypast)
The known facts are solid, but certain details remain obscure.
Voices from the record
“The Kray twins were the most notorious gangsters in London’s East End.”
Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference)
“They were celebrities of the 1960s London underworld – but their violent crimes put them in prison for decades.”
History Hit (history education site)
The final consequence for Reggie Kray: after a life that mixed boxing, celebrity, and murder, he spent 31 years in prison and died just weeks after release. For anyone studying 20th-century British crime, the Kray twins represent a warning—that fame built on fear ends in a lonely cell or a premature grave.
The full story of his rise and fall in London’s underworld is captured in Reginald Krays life and crimes.
Frequently asked questions
What was Reggie Kray’s boxing career like?
Reggie had a few amateur fights in the 1950s but never turned professional. He and Ronnie both trained as teenage boxers (History Hit).
Was Reggie Kray ever released from prison?
Yes, he was released on compassionate grounds in August 2000 due to inoperable bladder cancer (Biography.com).
How did Reggie Kray’s wife Frances die?
Frances Shea died by suicide on 6 June 1967 after a period of depression and drug use (Biography.com).
Who were Reggie Kray’s parents?
Charles Kray and Violet Lee. Charles was of Irish heritage, Violet of Romani descent (History Hit).
What is the Kray twins’ legacy?
They remain iconic figures in British crime history, subject of numerous films, books, and TV series, symbolising the glamour and brutality of the 1960s East End (Wikipedia).
Did Reggie Kray have any siblings?
He had his twin brother Ronnie and an older brother Charles Kray Jr. (History Hit).
Where was Reginald Kray buried?
He was buried in an unmarked grave in Chingford Mount Cemetery, London (Wikipedia).
Ryan Hughes is Senior Reporter at Coast Monitor, covering breaking stories and explainers.