Quick Info
| Profession | Gangster, Crime Boss |
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| Nationality | English |
| Date of Birth | 24/10/1933 |
| Age | 66 years (died on 01, Oct, 2000) |
| Birthplace | East London, England |
| Date of Death | 01/10/2000 |
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Bio/Wiki
| Summary | Reginald 'Reggie' Kray was an English gangster and identical twin brother to Ronnie Kray. He was one of England's most notorious crime bosses, active in London's East End during the 1950s and 1960s. With his twin brother, he led a criminal organization known as 'The Firm' involved in armed robberies, arson, protection rackets, assaults, and murder. He was convicted in 1969 and spent 33 years in prison before being released on compassionate grounds in August 2000, shortly before his death from bladder cancer. |
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Personal Life
| Religion | Became a born-again Christian while in prison |
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| Cause of Death | Bladder cancer |
Relationships & More
| First Wife: Frances Shea (married 1965, died 1967) |
Family
| Twin Brother | Ronnie Kray (24/10/1933 – 17/03/1995) |
|---|---|
| Father | Charles Kray (second-hand clothes dealer) |
| Mother | Violet Kray |
Career
| Criminal Activities | Armed robberies, arson, protection rackets, assaults, murder |
|---|---|
| Organization | The Firm |
| Notable Crimes | Murder of Jack 'the Hat' McVitie in 1967 at Stoke Newington, London; also charged with the 1966 murder of George Cornell (committed by Ronnie) |
| Arrest Date | 08/05/1968 |
| Conviction | 1969 - convicted of murder |
| Prison Sentence | 33 years |
| Release | August 2000 (compassionate grounds) |
| Publications | Our Story (1988, dual memoir with Ronnie Kray), Born Fighter (1991) |
Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Showed promise as a boxer growing up but chose a life of crime instead | |
| 2. Married Frances Shea in 1965; she died in 1967 | |
| 3. Wrote books while imprisoned, including autobiographies | |
| 4. Was very close to his mother Violet and her family | |
| 5. Served an earlier prison sentence of three years in the late 1950s for assault | |
| 6. The Krays ran nightclubs and a billiard hall on Mile End Road, which became bases for their criminal operations | |
| 7. Met celebrities including Judy Garland, Barbara Windsor, and boxer Joe Louis through their clubs |