Hit BBC series Only Fools and Horses first aired on the BBC on September 8 1981 and UK comedy was changed forever.
Starring David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst as brothers Del Boy and Rodney Trotter, the show gave us some of TV’s most iconic characters including John Challis as Boycie and Roger Lloyd Pack as Trigger.
Over 40 years since it first aired, some of the show’s cast have since passed away as plenty of tragedy happened behind the scenes of the hilarious show.
READ MORE: Only Fools and Horses cast made Lennard Pearce refuse to work due to epic prank
As the show celebrates its anniversary, we remember the cast members who have sadly passed away since the show first aired, their characters and careers.
Lennard Pearce – Grandad
(Image: BBC)
Lennard Pearce starred in the first three series of Only Fools and Horses as Grandad, who lived with Del Boy and Rodney at their flat.
Prior to Only Fools and Horses, Pearce had a long career on the stage, performing in productions such as My Fair Lady and Much Ado about Nothing.
He also starred in films including Antony and Cleopatra and an episode of the Hammer House of Horror television series.
Pearce sadly passed away in 1984 at the age of 69, following a sudden heart attack.
He had been filming series four of Only Fools and Horses at the time and the cast and crew were devastated by the sudden loss of Pearce.
Days before his death, Pearce had been filming scenes for the episode ‘Hole in One’, which was eventually reshot with actor Buster Merryfield in the role of Uncle Albert.
Episode Strained Relations began in the wake of Pearce’s character as the show paid tribute to the beloved actor and character.
Buster Merryfield – Albert
(Image: Credit: Moviestore collection Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo / BBC)
Buster Merryfield joined Only Fools and Horses as Uncle Albert, following the sudden death of actor Lennard Pearce.
Uncle Albert was the younger brother of Grandad, and was first introduced in the series four episode ‘Strained relations’.
Throughout the series, Uncle Albert would often tell Del Boy and Rodney stories of his days at sea.
Before Only Fools and Horses, Merryfield had worked in a bank for 40 years, and began his acting career after retiring from his job at age 57.
Merryfield sadly died in 1999 aged 78 in Poole.
Following Merryfield’s death, Uncle Albert was remembered in the Only Fools and Horses 2002 Christmas Special, where Del Boy and Rodney attend a Navy memorial ceremony in France to honour him.
Roger Lloyd Pack – Trigger
(Image: BBC)
Roger Lloyd Pack is fondly remembered for playing roadsweeper Trigger in the comedy series.
A friend of Del Boy’s, Trigger was known for iconic lines including calling Rodney ‘Dave’, and last appeared as the character in the 2003 Christmas special ‘Sleepless in Peckham’.
Following Only Fools and Horses, Lloyd Pack went on to star in comedy series including The Vicar of Dibley, where he played Owen Newitt.
He was also known to generations of fans as Barty Crouch Senior, in the fourth instalment of the Harry Potter films, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
Lloyd Pack sadly died from cancer in 2014, aged 69.
Kenneth McDonald
(Image: BBC)
Kenneth McDonald played landlord of the Nags Head, Mike Fisher, in Only and Fools and Horses.
He could often be found trying to ask Del Boy to pay his bar tab, or in comedy moments including the competition to guess the name of Del Boy’s baby, alongside actors such as Roger Lloyd Pack.
In addition to Only Fools, he also appeared in television series including Channel 4 soap Brookside, Brush Strokes, The Sins and drama David Copperfield.
He also had a career on stage, performing in West End Productions including the musical Guys and Dolls.
McDonald sadly passed away of a sudden heart attack in 2001 at the age of 50, while on holiday with his family in Hawaii.
John Challis
(Image: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images for Neil Reading PR)
John Challis became a TV icon after playing Boycie in Only Fools And Horses, and its spin-off, The Green Green Grass.
Away from our screens, he was also close friends with his Only Fools co-stars including Sue Holderness, who played on-screen wife Marlene.
Away from the sitcom, John also landed a major role on ITV comedy Benidorm, and through his career, had appeared in TV series including The Sweeney and Doctor Who, as well as a number of theatre productions.
However in 2019, the beloved star was also diagnosed with cancer, and in 2021, his one-man book tour was cancelled due to ill-health.
A statement from the tour promoter A Way With Media said at the time: “Due to ill health, John’s tour is cancelled with immediate effect.
“John received a cancer diagnosis two years ago and is not fit to perform. He completed the first show of his present tour, intending to continue. However, he has been advised to cancel further engagements.”
On September 19, 2021, his family released a statement announcing that John had died at the age of 79 years old.
“Our dear friend and yours, John Challis, has died peacefully in his sleep, after a long battle with cancer. He will always be loved for being ‘Boycie’ and leaves a great legacy of work that will continue to bring pleasure and smiles for many years to come,” it read.
Following his death, fans and co-stars paid tribute to the beloved star, with Del Boy actor Sir David Jason saying in a statement: “It is with much sadness to hear that John Challis, a dear friend, has passed away.
“He was a wonderful actor, a gentleman in the true sense of the word and I know he will be missed by so many.”
Marlene actress Sue Holderness also paid tribute on Twitter, saying: “Marlene without Boycie – it’s unthinkable.
“John Challis was my partner on screen and stage for 36 years and my beloved friend. R.I.P. darling John. I will miss you every day.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
