Cast Of Only Fools And Horses Who Have Died

I remember sitting on my nan’s worn-out sofa, a mug of tea in hand, watching Del Boy fall through the bar—again. It was a Thursday night ritual, the kind of comfort TV that felt like a hug from an old friend. You don’t realize how much you rely on that imaginary friendship until you look up one day and realize many of the faces behind the laughter are gone.

That’s the weird thing about Only Fools and Horses. It’s so alive, so full of chaotic energy and cockney swagger, that it’s easy to forget the actors who made it happen are human. And just like our own families, we’ve had to say goodbye to a few of them.

The Main Men We’ve Lost

Let’s start with the biggest blow, shall we? John Challis, who played the utterly magnificent Boycie, passed away in 2021 at the age of 79. Losing Boycie felt like losing a piece of the furniture—that smug, nasal laugh, the way he’d threaten to get his hands on you. It was a cruel exit, leaving a silence where that perfect growl used to be.

Then there’s Roger Lloyd-Pack, our beloved Trigger. He left us in 2014 at just 69. You know, the guy who was so thick he thought ‘Memorial’ was a public holiday? Roger was a classically trained actor who made a “stupid” character feel dignified. That’s a rare gift, and we still miss his vacant stare.

The Matriarchs and the Sidekicks

We can’t forget the women who kept the Trotters (sort of) in line. Buster Merryfield, who played Uncle Albert, died in 1999. He was the one who’d been “during the war”—even if you just asked him to pass the salt. Buster was actually a former bank manager who started acting late in life. Proof that it’s never too late to become a national treasure.

And what about Kenneth MacDonald? He played Mike the Barman, the long-suffering soul who ran the Nag’s Head. He passed in 2001. Ken was the voice of reason, often the only sane man in a room full of lunatics. Without him, Del’s scams would have had no audience to groan at.

There’s also Paul Barber—wait, hold on. He’s still with us, actually. Sorry, got carried away. (See what grief does? It makes you forget who’s still breathing.) But we did lose Roy Heather, the actor who played Sid the cafe owner, in 2021. Sid was the guy who’d sell you a cup of tea that tasted like dishwater, but you’d still drink it because he looked so worried.

The Quiet Exit of the Unsung Heroes

Let’s give a nod to the smaller roles that made the world feel real. John Bardon, who played Grandad’s old pal in a few episodes, died in 2014. And Barry Phelps, the vicar who married Rodney and Cassandra, passed away in 2014 too. These are the faces you don’t always name but recognize instantly, like the wallpaper in a house you grew up in.

I’ve got to mention Richard Loncraine, the director of the very first episode. He died in 2021 too. Without his vision, we might never have seen Del Boy in that sheepskin coat. Imagine a world without that. Chilling.

The Big One You’re Thinking About

Yes, I know who you’re waiting for. David Jason is still alive and well, thank goodness. Nicholas Lyndhurst is still around too. But the original Grandad—Lennard Pearce—died in 1984, right in the middle of the show’s original run. He was a lovely, gentle man. The show had to write his death into the script, bringing in Uncle Albert to fill the void. It was handled with such grace that it almost felt like a real family loss.

And we can’t talk about heartbreak without mentioning Paul M. M.—no, another living actor. Sorry, I keep doing that. The point is, the list is long, and every time I hear the theme tune, I feel a little pang.

What Does It All Mean, Dave?

So why write this? Because these actors gave us something permanent. They gave us a world where “lovely jubbly” is a philosophy and falling through a bar is a sign of success. They made the mundane magical. Every time you rewatch an episode, you’re actually hanging out with ghosts—but the nice kind, the ones who make you laugh.

The show ended in 2003, but these people are what keep it alive. They’re not really gone; they’re just on a permanent piss-up in the Nag’s Head in the sky. And honestly? I think Boycie’s still finding new ways to sell dodgy goods up there.

So next time you put on an episode, raise a glass to John, Roger, Lennard, Buster, and all the rest. They fell through the bar one last time, and we’re still laughing because of it. Cheers, you plonkers.