Patrick Murray, the actor best known for playing Mickey Pearce in the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses, has died aged 68.
In 2021 Murray revealed he had been diagnosed with cancer and had an operation to remove a lung tumour in its early stages. He said in 2022 that his oncologist had told him his “lung cancer was cured and that the tumour in my liver was shrinking”, but in April 2023 he revealed it had returned.
Murray starred as Mickey, a dim-witted friend of David Jason’s Del Boy and Nicholas Lyndhurst’s Rodney Trotter, across 20 episodes of the comedy series between 1983 and 2003.
A BBC spokesperson said: “We are very sad to hear of the passing of Patrick Murray, much loved for his role as Mickey in Only Fools and Horses. Our thoughts are with his friends and family.”
Sue Holderness, who played Marlene in Only Fools and Horses, paid tribute to Murray on X, saying: “RIP darling Patrick. Much love. You will be greatly missed.”
Before his work on the show, Murray starred in films including Quadrophenia, Scum and Curse of the Pink Panther. His other TV appearances included in the 1990s sitcom The Upper Hand, The Bill, ITV Playhouse and Bergerac.