Only Fools And Horses Actors Who Have Died

Remember that moment when Del Boy fell through the bar? I was eight, watching a battered VHS tape, and I nearly choked on my crisps. That scene has become comedy legend, but it also comes with a bittersweet thought: so many of the brilliant faces who made us laugh like that are now gone. It’s a strange thing—loving a show that double-acts as a roll call of talented actors we’ve lost.

David Jason is still with us (thankfully!), but the Trotter clan has taken some serious hits.

Of course, the heart of the show was the main trio, and we’re lucky David Jason is still around. But think of the other Trotters: Granddad, played by the wonderful Lennard Pearce. He passed away in 1984, just as the show was hitting its stride. It was a huge blow, and the show had to rewrite history to introduce Uncle Albert.

Then there’s Buster Merryfield, who played Uncle Albert. He died in 1999, perfectly fitting the role of the old sea dog telling tales of the war. Can you imagine the Trotter family without either of those two? They grounded the chaos with a kind of weary, world-weary humour that you just can’t fake.

The real tragedy? Two of the main cast died before they could see the show’s biggest success.

Lennard Pearce never got to see the 1985 Christmas special, let alone the 1996 mega-episodes. It’s like the show had to carry on without its anchor. Buster Merryfield, meanwhile, saw the 1996 comeback but passed before the 2001 specials. It’s a sobering reminder that fame often arrives after the final curtain.

And who can forget Roger Lloyd-Pack? He played the unforgettable Trigger, the bloke with the crooked broom and the brain full of sawdust. His death in 2014 felt like losing a weird, wonderful uncle. I still catch myself saying “You plonker!” in his exact tone, and it hurts a bit.

Beyond the Trotters, the market stall crowd was a goldmine of talent that’s now silent.

John Challis—the legendary Boycie—passed away in 2021. His nasally laugh and that car showroom were a perfect foil for Del Boy’s bluster. You can’t think of “Only Fools” without hearing that “Mange tout, mange tout!” echo from somewhere.

Then there’s Kenneth MacDonald, who played Mike the barman. He died in 2001, and the Nag’s Head lost its best landlord. His dry, put-upon delivery was the perfect straight man to the chaos at the bar. I swear, every time someone orders a round in a pub, I half-expect him to sigh and pour a pint of Shandy Bass.

We also lost Tessa Peake-Jones’ on-screen husband? No, she’s alive, but let’s talk about Raquel’s dad. Actually, it’s easier to list the smaller but vital parts. Nicholas Lyndhurst (Rodney) is thankfully alive, but his on-screen love interests? Gwyneth Strong (Cassandra) is alive too—so we’re safe there. It’s the bit-part players who made the world feel lived-in.

Let’s tip our hats to the villains and oddballs who are no longer with us.

Roy Heather played Sid, the greasy café owner. He died in 2005. His café was the backdrop for a thousand schemes and hangover cures. That man could make a fried slice look like a Michelin-star dish just by how he grunted at Del.

And Paul Barber (Denzil) is still with us, but Patrick Murray (Mickey Pearce) is alive too. But the list of lost support actors is long. John Woodvine (the Judge in the 1996 episodes) passed in 2017. Even the actors who appeared for only a few scenes left a mark—like the Doctor who gave Del a clean bill of health to drive a three-wheeler.

It’s weirdly comforting, though. When I watch an old episode now, I’m not just laughing at the jokes. I’m remembering these actors at their peak, frozen in a world of shell suits and Chandeliers. They’re not dead—they’re just stuck in a council flat in Peckham, forever trying to flog knocked-off gear.

And that’s the beauty of it, isn’t it?

These actors gave us characters that feel like family. You argue with your dad about whether Del or Rodney was funnier. You quote “Lovely jubbly” at Christmas dinner. Their mortality doesn’t kill the magic; it just adds a layer of nostalgic melancholy.

So next time you binge a box set, give a quiet nod to Lennard, Buster, Roger, John, and Kenneth. They’re upstairs in the pub, having a pint, probably laughing at how long it took us to notice they were gone. Just like a real Trotters’ deal, the greatest gift they left us was free: endless laughter.

And that’s the only thing that never depreciates in value. Cheers, you lovely plonkers. 🍻