Ronald Kray

Ronald and Reginald Kray
Reggie (left) and Ronnie Kray
Born	24 October 1933 Hoxton, London, England
Died	Ronnie: 17 March 1995(1995-03-17) (aged 61) Slough, Berkshire, England Reggie: 1 October 2000(2000-10-01) (aged 66) Norwich, Norfolk, England
Cause of death	Heart attack (Ronnie) Bladder cancer (Reggie)
Other names	Ronnie & Reggie
Occupation	Nightclub owners, gangsters
Criminal status	Both deceased
Spouse(s)	Reggie: Frances Shea (m. 1965; d. 1967) Roberta Jones (m. 1997) Ronnie: Elaine Mildener (m. 1985; div. 1989) Kate Howard (m. 1989; div. 1994)

Twin brothers Ronald "Ronnie" Kray (24 October 1933 – 17 March 1995) and Reginald "Reggie" Kray (24 October 1933 – 1 October 2000) were English gangsters who were the foremost perpetrators of organised crime in the East End of London during the 1950s and 1960s. With their gang, the Firm, the Krays were involved in armed robberies, arson, protection rackets, assaults and the murders of Jack "the Hat" McVitie and George Cornell.

As West End nightclub owners, they mixed with politicians and prominent entertainers such as Diana Dors, Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland. The Krays were much feared within their social environment; in the 1960s, they became celebrities, being photographed by David Bailey and interviewed on television.

They were arrested on 8 May 1968 and convicted in 1969, by the efforts of detectives led by Detective Superintendent Leonard "Nipper" Read. Both were sentenced to life imprisonment. Ronnie remained in Broadmoor Hospital until his death on 17 March 1995; Reggie was released from prison on compassionate grounds in August 2000, eight weeks before his death from cancer.

Ronnie and Reggie Kray were born on 24 October 1933 in Hoxton, East London, to Charles David Kray (10 March 1907 – 8 March 1983), a scrap gold dealer, and Violet Annie Lee (5 August 1909 – 4 August 1982). The Krays were of Irish, Jewish and Romany Gypsy ancestry.