Who Died From Only Fools And Horses

Let’s be honest, if you grew up in the UK, Only Fools and Horses wasn’t just a TV show—it was a family heirloom. You watched it on a Sunday night, probably with a cup of tea and a biscuit that you dunked far too long. The Trotter family felt like your own slightly dodgy relatives.

Whenever someone mentions Nelson Mandela House, you don’t think of South Africa. You think of Del Boy’s sheepskin coat and the smell of cheap cigars. So, when an actor from that show passes away, it feels like losing a neighbour.

It’s not just a celebrity death. It’s the end of a catchphrase you’ve said a thousand times, or a face that made you laugh when you were feeling rubbish. Let’s take a gentle, easy-going walk down memory lane and remember who we’ve lost.

The Grandad of It All

We have to start with Grandad, played by Lennard Pearce. He was the ultimate sit-down comedian, the king of the armchair. When he died in real life in 1984, it was a genuine shock.

His character was the soul of the flat, always grumbling about the “old days” or nodding off mid-sentence. Lennard Pearce’s passing meant the show had to evolve, bringing in Uncle Albert. But Grandad’s legacy? That never died—he’s still the reason you say “During the war…” with a sigh.

Uncle Albert: The Sailor Who Stayed Afloat

Speaking of Uncle Albert, played by Buster Merryfield, he came in to fill Grandad’s slippers. And my word, did he ever! Buster had a real-life backstory almost as good as the show—he was a bank manager before becoming an actor at age 50.

When Buster passed away in 1999, it felt like the end of an era. You couldn’t hear the line “He who dares, wins, Rodney” without a lump in your throat. He was the bloke who took napping to an Olympic sport, and we loved him for it.

The Lovely Boycie

Now, let’s talk about Boycie, played by the brilliant John Challis. If there was ever a man who made a dodgy second-hand car salesman look charming, it was him. His distinctive laugh was like a rusty gate opening.

John Challis left us in 2021, and the world got a little less smug. He had that perfect ability to make you root for a man who would sell you a car with square wheels. Every time you see a yellow Reliant Regal, you think of his face.

And who could forget his wife, Marlene? The voice was iconic, but the actress, Sue Nicholls, is still with us. Thank goodness—we need at least one person to describe Boycie’s “peculiar” habits.

Trigger: The Man Who Wasn’t a Plank

Trigger, played by Roger Lloyd-Pack, was the simplest genius on television. He called everyone “Dave,” even when their name was Rodney. His passing in 2014 was a gut punch, because he was the one character you genuinely couldn’t imagine being mean.

He was the bloke who’d sweep the street for hours, then accidentally set fire to the market. Roger Lloyd-Pack turned a man with a broom into a national treasure. You still can’t see a broom without grinning.

Mike Fisher: The Man With the Plans

Don’t forget Mike the barman, played by Kenneth MacDonald. He was the quiet anchor of The Nag’s Head, the poor soul who had to listen to Del’s “crème de la menthe” schemes. Kenneth passed away in 2001, and the pub just isn’t the same without him.

He was the guy who’d say “You’re a plonker, Rodney” with the driest tone on earth. His death meant the end of those wonderful, deadpan reactions to Del’s madness.

Others Who Left Us

There’s Roy Heather, who played Sid the café owner. He passed in 2017, taking the smell of fried eggs and cold tea with him. His café was the place where Del tried to sell knock-off microwave ovens.

Then there’s Tessa Peake-Jones’s real-life husband? No, Raquel is still alive. But let’s remember Johnny “The Jolly Green Giant” (sorry, Gareth Hunt), who played the dangerous arsonist. He died in 2007, but his “fists” are still legendary.

Also, the late James Hayter, who played the original shopkeeper? Actually, he died long before the show. But you get the idea—the list is long because the cast was huge.

Why It Still Hurts (In a Good Way)

So, why do we care about these actors so much? Because they weren’t just actors; they were our uncles, our neighbours, our mates down the pub. When Grandad died, we felt like we lost a real grandfather.

Every time an actor from Only Fools passes, we rewatch the episode where Del falls through the bar. And we laugh, but we also feel a little softer. It’s like hearing a song from your youth—the tune is the same, but the feeling changes.

They gave us “This time next year, we’ll be millionaires!” And in a way, they made us rich in memories. So raise a glass of Dubonnet (or a cup of weak tea) to the wonderful souls who made the Trotter family immortal.

They’ve gone to meet the final buyer in the sky, but their laughs? They’re still echoing around Nelson Mandela House. And as Del would say, “You know it makes sense.”