vvmax 7 Posted September 7, 2021 10 hours ago, Deathrace said: Yes, but of the main cast members of Dad's Army only James Beck died really early. Arnold Ridley, Bill Pertwee, John Laurie and Clive Dunn (of course) all lived to be over 80. John Le Mesurier was over 70, Arthur Lowe was late 60s. Ian Lavender (75) and Frank Williams (90) are still not out. With Dad's Army it was that the cast were very old to start with. Their overall average life expectancy has been higher than British men of that era. In contrast only David Jason of the main Only Fools cast has made it past 80 so far by my reckoning. Janet Davies (Pikes mum) was only 59 when she died. I wouldn’t consider 60s that old. You are correct about Only Fools though. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RoverAndOut 4,746 Posted September 8, 2021 Ok, so after all this chat about the Only Fools curse, I thought I'd do some digging and I've created this (not exhaustive) list. Main cast members who are dead are listed first, then the rest by age. I also checked up on some people who struck me as having roles in notable episodes, but as I said, it's not exhaustive: Buster Merryfield (Uncle Albert Trotter) - b. 27/11/20, d. 23/6/99, aged 79 (brain tumour) Roy Heather (Sid, the cafe owner) - b. 20/5/35, d. 3/9/14, aged 79 (undisclosed cause) Lennard Pearce (Grandad Trotter) - b. 9/2/15, d. 15/12/84, aged 69 (heart attack) Roger Lloyd-Pack (Trigger) - b. 8/2/44, d. 15/1/14, aged 69 (pancreatic cancer) Kenneth MacDonald (Mike "The Barman" Fisher) - b. 20/11/51, d. 6/8/01, aged 59 (heart attack) John Challis (Aubrey "Boycie" Boyce) - b. 16/8/42, d. 19/9/21, aged 79 (cancer) David Jason (Derek "Del Boy" Trotter) - b. 2/2/40 (81) Denis Lill (Alan Parry, Cassandra's dad) - b. 22/4/42 (79) - appeared once on tv since 2017 Sue Holderness ("All the boys remember" Marlene Boyce) - b. 28/5/49 (72) Paul Barber (Denzil) - b. 18/3/51 (70) Patrick Murray (Mickey Pearce) - b. 17/12/56 (64) - suffering from COPD since 2018 and retired from public life Tessa Peake-Jones (Raquel Turner, Del's partner) - b. 9/5/57 (64) - series regular in Grantchester Gwyneth Strong (Cassandra Trotter) - b. 2/12/59 (61) Nicholas Lyndhurst (Rodney Trotter) - b. 20/4/61 (60) - only child (a son) died September 2020, aged 20 Multiple appearances: Peter Woodthorpe (Reg Trotter, Del and Rodney's dad) - b. 25/9/31, d. 13/8/04, aged 72 (short illness) Christopher Mitchell (DS Terry Hoskins) - b. 21/5/48, d. 22/2/01, aged 52 (cancer) Wanda Ventham (Pamela Parry, Cassandra's mum) - b. 5/8/35 (86) - mother of Benedict Cumberbatch Nick Stringer (Aussie Man/Jumbo Mills) - b. 10/8/48 (73) - also in The Bill Jim Broadbent (DCI Roy Slater) - b. 24/5/49 (72) Andree Bernard ("Nervous" Nerys the Barmaid) - b. 29/11/66 - jobbing actress, still active Nula Conwell (Maureen the Barmaid) - b. 24/5/59 (62) - also in The Bill Steven Woodcock (Jevon, Rodney and Mickey's mate) - b. 23/2/64 (57) - also in Eastenders Tony Marshall (Chris, Rodney and Mickey's mate) - b. 14/5/64 (57) Ben Smith (teenage Damien Derek Trotter) - b. 27/12/89 (31) - still acting Julie La Rousse (Julie the Barmaid) - unknown Michele Winstanley (Karen the Barmaid) - unknown Peta Bernard (Joyce the Barmaid) - unknown Jamie Smith (young Damien Derek Trotter) - unknown, only appeared in OFAH Memorable appearances: Ann Lynn (Audrey Turner, Raquel's mum in "Time on our Hands") died in 2020, aged 86 (unknown causes) John Bardon (Tom Clarke, the supermarket security guard in "The Longest Night") died in 2014, from complications following a stroke, aged 75 Max Harvey (Mr Peterson, the supermarket manager in "The Longest Night") died in 2006, aged 64 (unknown causes) Tony Anholt (Abdul, Boycie's diamond-smuggling partner in "To Hull and Back") died in 2002 of a brain tumour, aged 61 Eva Mottley (Corinne, Denzil's wife in "Who's a Pretty Boy") died in 1985 of a drugs overdose, aged 31 Elizabeth Benson (Lady Ridgemere in "A Touch of Glass" [the Chandelier episode]) is still going, aged 95 Michael Jayston (James Turner, Raquel's dad who finds the fortune-making watch in "Time on our Hands") is nearly 86 Roy Marsden (Danny Driscoll [the tall one] in "Little Problems") is 80 Seymour Matthews (The Auctioneer announcing the watch had made £6m in "Time on our Hands") is 76 Christopher Ryan (Tony Driscoll [the short one] in "Little Problems") is 71 Philip McGough (Arnie the con man in "Chain Gang") is still going, no idea on age but he'll be 70-odd like the main cast I assume Angela Bruce (Councillor Murray, rescued by Batman and Robin in "Heroes and Villains") is 70 Daniel Peacock (Mental Mickey in "It's Only Rock and Roll") is nearly 63 Philip Pope (Tony Angelino, the singer with a lisp in "Stage Fright") is 60-odd - also a noted television composer Vas Blackwood (Lennox "The Shadow" Gilby, the wannabe supermarket robber in "The Longest Night") is nearly 59 Erika Hoffman (Anna, the pregnant German girl in "From Prussia with Love") is 56 As always, open to suggestions/additional information, but hope this is useful to someone. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spade_Cooley 9,526 Posted September 8, 2021 3 minutes ago, RoverAndOut said: Philip McGough (Arnie the con man in "Chain Gang") is still going, no idea on age but he'll be 70-odd like the main cast I assume Please refer to him by his proper name, "I Thought That Was Keith Barron". 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DCI Frank Burnside 3,887 Posted September 8, 2021 43 minutes ago, RoverAndOut said: Ok, so after all this chat about the Only Fools curse, I thought I'd do some digging and I've created this (not exhaustive) list. Main cast members who are dead are listed first, then the rest by age. I also checked up on some people who struck me as having roles in notable episodes, but as I said, it's not exhaustive: Buster Merryfield (Uncle Albert Trotter) - b. 27/11/20, d. 23/6/99, aged 79 (brain tumour) Roy Heather (Sid, the cafe owner) - b. 20/5/35, d. 3/9/14, aged 79 (undisclosed cause) Lennard Pearce (Grandad Trotter) - b. 9/2/15, d. 15/12/84, aged 69 (heart attack) Roger Lloyd-Pack (Trigger) - b. 8/2/44, d. 15/1/14, aged 69 (pancreatic cancer) Kenneth MacDonald (Mike "The Barman" Fisher) - b. 20/11/51, d. 6/8/01, aged 59 (heart attack) David Jason (Derek "Del Boy" Trotter) - b. 2/2/40 (81) Denis Lill (Alan Parry, Cassandra's dad) - b. 22/4/42 (79) - appeared once on tv since 2017 John Challis (Aubrey "Boycie" Boyce) - b. 16/8/42 (79) - suffering from undisclosed cancer since 2019 Sue Holderness ("All the boys remember" Marlene Boyce) - b. 28/5/49 (72) Paul Barber (Denzil) - b. 18/3/51 (70) Patrick Murray (Mickey Pearce) - b. 17/12/56 (64) - suffering from COPD since 2018 and retired from public life Tessa Peake-Jones (Raquel Turner, Del's partner) - b. 9/5/57 (64) - series regular in Grantchester Gwyneth Strong (Cassandra Trotter) - b. 2/12/59 (61) Nicholas Lyndhurst (Rodney Trotter) - b. 20/4/61 (60) - only child (a son) died September 2020, aged 20 Multiple appearances: Peter Woodthorpe (Reg Trotter, Del and Rodney's dad) - b. 25/9/31, d. 13/8/04, aged 72 (short illness) Christopher Mitchell (DS Terry Hoskins) - b. 21/5/48, d. 22/2/01, aged 52 (cancer) Wanda Ventham (Pamela Parry, Cassandra's mum) - b. 5/8/35 (86) - mother of Benedict Cumberbatch Nick Stringer (Aussie Man/Jumbo Mills) - b. 10/8/48 (73) - also in The Bill Jim Broadbent (DCI Roy Slater) - b. 24/5/49 (72) Andree Bernard ("Nervous" Nerys the Barmaid) - b. 29/11/66 - jobbing actress, still active Nula Conwell (Maureen the Barmaid) - b. 24/5/59 (62) - also in The Bill Steven Woodcock (Jevon, Rodney and Mickey's mate) - b. 23/2/64 (57) - also in Eastenders Tony Marshall (Chris, Rodney and Mickey's mate) - b. 14/5/64 (57) Ben Smith (teenage Damien Derek Trotter) - b. 27/12/89 (31) - still acting Julie La Rousse (Julie the Barmaid) - unknown Michele Winstanley (Karen the Barmaid) - unknown Peta Bernard (Joyce the Barmaid) - unknown Jamie Smith (young Damien Derek Trotter) - unknown, only appeared in OFAH Memorable appearances: Ann Lynn (Audrey Turner, Raquel's mum in "Time on our Hands") died in 2020, aged 86 (unknown causes) John Bardon (Tom Clarke, the supermarket security guard in "The Longest Night") died in 2014, from complications following a stroke, aged 75 Max Harvey (Mr Peterson, the supermarket manager in "The Longest Night") died in 2006, aged 64 (unknown causes) Tony Anholt (Abdul, Boycie's diamond-smuggling partner in "To Hull and Back") died in 2002 of a brain tumour, aged 61 Eva Mottley (Corinne, Denzil's wife in "Who's a Pretty Boy") died in 1985 of a drugs overdose, aged 31 Elizabeth Benson (Lady Ridgemere in "A Touch of Glass" [the Chandelier episode]) is still going, aged 95 Michael Jayston (James Turner, Raquel's dad who finds the fortune-making watch in "Time on our Hands") is nearly 86 Roy Marsden (Danny Driscoll [the tall one] in "Little Problems") is 80 Seymour Matthews (The Auctioneer announcing the watch had made $6m in "Time on our Hands") is 76 Christopher Ryan (Tony Driscoll [the short one] in "Little Problems") is 71 Philip McGough (Arnie the con man in "Chain Gang") is still going, no idea on age but he'll be 70-odd like the main cast I assume Angela Bruce (Councillor Murray, rescued by Batman and Robin in "Heroes and Villains") is 70 Daniel Peacock (Mental Mickey in "It's Only Rock and Roll") is nearly 63 Philip Pope (Tony Angelino, the singer with a lisp in "Stage Fright") is 60-odd - also a noted television composer Vas Blackwood (Lennox "The Shadow" Gilby, the wannabe supermarket robber in "The Longest Night") is nearly 59 Erika Hoffman (Anna, the pregnant German girl in "From Prussia with Love") is 56 As always, open to suggestions/additional information, but hope this is useful to someone. A role supposedly written for Anthony Hopkins who's a big fan of OFAH who then couldn't do it. (Silence of The Lambs may have been the reason I think) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deathrace 1,171 Posted September 8, 2021 Never knew that about "Corinne" - sounds like a sad story. It would have been deeply ironic if they had replaced her with another actress playing the character given the episode the character is most famous for appearing in. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handrejka 1,904 Posted September 8, 2021 I was sure Myfanwy Talog, David Jason's partner for many years before her death from cancer aged 50 had been in the odd episode but she's not. I wonder if there is a general John Sullivan curse, none of the main male actors in Dear John reached 70 and Diane Bull who was in the mostly forgotten Sitting Pretty died aged only 46. The cast of Citizen Smith seem to have escaped it though. Edit - I know there isn't really a curse and any programme which ran for years and with a long cast blah di blah, I just find interesting to note these things. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the_engineer 1,415 Posted September 9, 2021 12 hours ago, RoverAndOut said: Ok, so after all this chat about the Only Fools curse, I thought I'd do some digging and I've created this (not exhaustive) list. Main cast members who are dead are listed first, then the rest by age. I also checked up on some people who struck me as having roles in notable episodes, but as I said, it's not exhaustive: Buster Merryfield (Uncle Albert Trotter) - b. 27/11/20, d. 23/6/99, aged 79 (brain tumour) Roy Heather (Sid, the cafe owner) - b. 20/5/35, d. 3/9/14, aged 79 (undisclosed cause) Lennard Pearce (Grandad Trotter) - b. 9/2/15, d. 15/12/84, aged 69 (heart attack) Roger Lloyd-Pack (Trigger) - b. 8/2/44, d. 15/1/14, aged 69 (pancreatic cancer) Kenneth MacDonald (Mike "The Barman" Fisher) - b. 20/11/51, d. 6/8/01, aged 59 (heart attack) David Jason (Derek "Del Boy" Trotter) - b. 2/2/40 (81) Denis Lill (Alan Parry, Cassandra's dad) - b. 22/4/42 (79) - appeared once on tv since 2017 John Challis (Aubrey "Boycie" Boyce) - b. 16/8/42 (79) - suffering from undisclosed cancer since 2019 Sue Holderness ("All the boys remember" Marlene Boyce) - b. 28/5/49 (72) Paul Barber (Denzil) - b. 18/3/51 (70) Patrick Murray (Mickey Pearce) - b. 17/12/56 (64) - suffering from COPD since 2018 and retired from public life Tessa Peake-Jones (Raquel Turner, Del's partner) - b. 9/5/57 (64) - series regular in Grantchester Gwyneth Strong (Cassandra Trotter) - b. 2/12/59 (61) Nicholas Lyndhurst (Rodney Trotter) - b. 20/4/61 (60) - only child (a son) died September 2020, aged 20 Multiple appearances: Peter Woodthorpe (Reg Trotter, Del and Rodney's dad) - b. 25/9/31, d. 13/8/04, aged 72 (short illness) Christopher Mitchell (DS Terry Hoskins) - b. 21/5/48, d. 22/2/01, aged 52 (cancer) Wanda Ventham (Pamela Parry, Cassandra's mum) - b. 5/8/35 (86) - mother of Benedict Cumberbatch Nick Stringer (Aussie Man/Jumbo Mills) - b. 10/8/48 (73) - also in The Bill Jim Broadbent (DCI Roy Slater) - b. 24/5/49 (72) Andree Bernard ("Nervous" Nerys the Barmaid) - b. 29/11/66 - jobbing actress, still active Nula Conwell (Maureen the Barmaid) - b. 24/5/59 (62) - also in The Bill Steven Woodcock (Jevon, Rodney and Mickey's mate) - b. 23/2/64 (57) - also in Eastenders Tony Marshall (Chris, Rodney and Mickey's mate) - b. 14/5/64 (57) Ben Smith (teenage Damien Derek Trotter) - b. 27/12/89 (31) - still acting Julie La Rousse (Julie the Barmaid) - unknown Michele Winstanley (Karen the Barmaid) - unknown Peta Bernard (Joyce the Barmaid) - unknown Jamie Smith (young Damien Derek Trotter) - unknown, only appeared in OFAH Memorable appearances: Ann Lynn (Audrey Turner, Raquel's mum in "Time on our Hands") died in 2020, aged 86 (unknown causes) John Bardon (Tom Clarke, the supermarket security guard in "The Longest Night") died in 2014, from complications following a stroke, aged 75 Max Harvey (Mr Peterson, the supermarket manager in "The Longest Night") died in 2006, aged 64 (unknown causes) Tony Anholt (Abdul, Boycie's diamond-smuggling partner in "To Hull and Back") died in 2002 of a brain tumour, aged 61 Eva Mottley (Corinne, Denzil's wife in "Who's a Pretty Boy") died in 1985 of a drugs overdose, aged 31 Elizabeth Benson (Lady Ridgemere in "A Touch of Glass" [the Chandelier episode]) is still going, aged 95 Michael Jayston (James Turner, Raquel's dad who finds the fortune-making watch in "Time on our Hands") is nearly 86 Roy Marsden (Danny Driscoll [the tall one] in "Little Problems") is 80 Seymour Matthews (The Auctioneer announcing the watch had made $6m in "Time on our Hands") is 76 Christopher Ryan (Tony Driscoll [the short one] in "Little Problems") is 71 Philip McGough (Arnie the con man in "Chain Gang") is still going, no idea on age but he'll be 70-odd like the main cast I assume Angela Bruce (Councillor Murray, rescued by Batman and Robin in "Heroes and Villains") is 70 Daniel Peacock (Mental Mickey in "It's Only Rock and Roll") is nearly 63 Philip Pope (Tony Angelino, the singer with a lisp in "Stage Fright") is 60-odd - also a noted television composer Vas Blackwood (Lennox "The Shadow" Gilby, the wannabe supermarket robber in "The Longest Night") is nearly 59 Erika Hoffman (Anna, the pregnant German girl in "From Prussia with Love") is 56 As always, open to suggestions/additional information, but hope this is useful to someone. Good list! Why did you include the bit about his son? Not having a go , just wondering if you think he's a suicide risk? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RoverAndOut 4,746 Posted September 9, 2021 On 08/09/2021 at 13:26, DCI Frank Burnside said: A role supposedly written for Anthony Hopkins who's a big fan of OFAH who then couldn't do it. (Silence of The Lambs may have been the reason I think) Never knew this - good fact! That would have been some cameo. 19 hours ago, Deathrace said: Never knew that about "Corinne" - sounds like a sad story. It would have been deeply ironic if they had replaced her with another actress playing the character given the episode the character is most famous for appearing in. I was familiar with this before doing the research - very sad and it's why we never saw Corinne again, out of respect. Though I agree, as an in-joke for the fans it would've been pretty good if they'd replaced her! 14 hours ago, the_engineer said: Good list! Why did you include the bit about his son? Not having a go , just wondering if you think he's a suicide risk? Thanks. Just thought it relevant to mention as a relatively recent major trauma. He's always struck me as a level-headed guy and they seem to have come to terms with his death as best they can in the year since, so don't think he's a suicide risk. But it's a big, sudden emotional strain in middle age. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ladyfiona 2,585 Posted September 11, 2021 New photo of John Challis from his Twitter. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Leon Brittan 294 Posted September 11, 2021 18 minutes ago, ladyfiona said: New photo of John Challis from his Twitter. He looks surprisingly well I think. Not much difference since I met him back in 2017 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deathrace 1,171 Posted September 11, 2021 2 hours ago, Leon Brittan said: He looks surprisingly well I think. Not much difference since I met him back in 2017 Do we actually know this is a recent photo? Not many people openly supporting Arsenal right now. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ulitzer95 12,619 Posted September 11, 2021 2 hours ago, ladyfiona said: New photo of John Challis from his Twitter. The above pic was taken in August 2015. Original tweet here. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
msc 18,466 Posted September 11, 2021 On 06/09/2021 at 12:15, msc said: This was him the other week. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Immortal 634 Posted September 15, 2021 David Jason looking frail according to article https://www.express.co.uk/celebrity-news/1487450/David-Jason-pictures-frail-age-health-latest-Only-Fools-and-Horses-Del-Boy-news 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Arsewipe 202 Posted September 15, 2021 4 hours ago, TheSpinosaurus said: David Jason looking frail according to article https://www.express.co.uk/celebrity-news/1487450/David-Jason-pictures-frail-age-health-latest-Only-Fools-and-Horses-Del-Boy-news That shirt does him no favours, if it was beige you would've said he looked his age. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
time 8,602 Posted September 19, 2021 Sheila Ferguson Tweeting that John Challis has died. 1 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MarcJWallace 270 Posted September 19, 2021 John Challis dead 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RoverAndOut 4,746 Posted September 19, 2021 3 minutes ago, time said: Sheila Ferguson Tweeting that John Challis has died. Wow. He really didn't last long did he? What a great character and a lovely man by all accounts. In keeping with his last wishes (according to the video a few weeks ago), let's raise a large cognac to Boycie. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
msc 18,466 Posted September 19, 2021 It did feel ominous. A good actor, sad news. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RolandDeschain 91 Posted September 19, 2021 Gutted to hear this. RIP Boycie. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ladyfiona 2,585 Posted September 19, 2021 I did feel something was wrong as he only managed one show and cancelled the rest ASAP. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spade_Cooley 9,526 Posted September 19, 2021 This probably wasn't his finest hour. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YoungWillz 21,044 Posted September 19, 2021 Look we all know what John Challis should be remembered for: Sad news though. RIP. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Old Crem 3,603 Posted September 19, 2021 Anyone famous who is 77 or 83 - I feel like we might be getting a hatrick of BBC News app notification worthy deaths today. Sad news. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
