Sean Slater left EastEnders on New Year\u2019s Day 2009 but is set to return to Albert Square<\/p>\n
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Robert Kazinsky is returning "home" to EastEnders to reprise his role as Sean Slater, 17 years after leaving the BBC soap.<\/p>\n
The actor made his debut in Walford in 2006 as a central member of the formidable Slater family, alongside mother Jean (Gillian Wright) and sister Stacey (Lacey Turner).<\/p>\n
His character exited Albert Square on New Year\u2019s Day 2009 following a dramatic showdown with Roxy Mitchell (Rita Simons), after learning the daughter he believed was his had been fathered by another man.<\/p>\n
Since departing, Kazinsky has made several surprise appearances, including a brief 2019 return to support Jean through her cancer diagnosis while addressing his own mental health struggles.<\/p>\n
The troubled character has also appeared occasionally via video call to his family.<\/p>\n
Sean Slater will return to the soap later this year, moving back to Albert Square for reasons that "are set to become clear".<\/p>\n
Kazinsky said: "I left EastEnders in 2008 as a 23-year-old boy and was lucky to spend the next 19 years of my life working around the world, always championing EastEnders and stating the fact that one day I wanted to walk in Sean\u2019s shoes again \u2013 but this time as a man, to see who Sean the man might also be.<\/p>\n
"I wanted to do it for Sean, I wanted to do it for the fans that have supported me in every role since I left the Square but, mostly, I wanted to do it for me.<\/p>\n
"I\u2019m home, and I can\u2019t wait to bring a new level of heartfelt chaos to Albert Square in the way only Sean Slater can."<\/p>\n
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Ben Wadey, executive producer, added: "I\u2019m delighted to welcome Rob Kazinsky back to EastEnders as he reprises the role of Sean Slater later this year.<\/p>\n
"Sean Slater was a big part of the Slater family and as viewers will already know, where Sean goes, drama is not far behind."<\/p>\n
Since leaving EastEnders, Kazinsky has forged a successful acting career with roles in films such as Pacific Rim, Warcraft, Captain Marvel and Star Trek: Section 31.<\/p>\n