Patrick Murray, Only Fools Actor, Dies at 68

Patrick Murray, best known for playing Mickey Pearce in Only Fools and Horses, has died aged 68, the Only Fools and Horses Appreciation Society announced on October 2. He had a long history of serious health problems: he was treated for lung cancer, had previously been given the all-clear before the disease returned in 2023 and spread to his legs and pelvis, and he also suffered from COPD and had part of his liver removed for a malignant growth. In 1989 a freak accident nearly cost him an arm and writer John Sullivan rewrote the episode "Little Problems" so his character could appear in plaster casts. After stepping back from acting he ran a pub, struggled with alcoholism before getting help, and spent years in Thailand where he met and married his partner Anong and had a daughter, Josie. He later returned to the UK, working as an executive driver, DJ and in other jobs while trying to secure visas for his family. Fans and colleagues have paid tribute, recalling his regular convention appearances and the humour he brought to many.