Pictures courtesy of Daily Mail

 

Patrick Murray, best known for playing Mickey Pearce in the BBC comedy Only Fools and Horses, has died aged 68 following a battle with lung cancer. The actor’s death on 29 September, was confirmed on 2 October, marking the end of a long struggle with illness that returned and spread.

 

Murray’s later years were defined by both health battles and financial struggles. After finding TV and film roles had dried up, he took work driving cars in Kent in order to raise enough money to bring his wife and daughter from Thailand. He revealed he became a taxi driver, chauffeuring people in a Mercedes Benz, while waiting for Home Office approval on family visas.

 

He met his wife Anong, now 36, in Pattaya, in 2016 and married her there, the same year. Their daughter Josie was born one month later. In 2017, Murray, who had lived in Pattaya, for over a decade, attempted to bring them back to the UK, but their visa applications were initially refused because he did not meet minimum income requirements for non-European spouses.

 

The actor spoke openly about the difficulties of being separated from his family, describing himself as a “Skype dad” who only saw his baby daughter on a phone screen for two years. He was finally reunited with his wife and child in Britain in 2018 after the prolonged visa struggle.

 

In 2023, Murray revealed he was suffering “absolute agony” from cancer which had returned and spread to his legs and pelvis, though he remained hopeful about radiology treatment. He had previously undergone surgery to remove part of his liver and a malignant growth in 2022, alongside chemotherapy following an earlier lung cancer diagnosis in 2021. At one point, he announced his lung cancer was cured and that a liver tumour was shrinking.

 

Murray was a familiar face on British screens for decades. He first came to prominence in gritty 1970s dramas including Scum and Quadrophenia. His long-running role as Mickey Pearce in Only Fools and Horses spanned from 1983 to 2023, where he became a fan favourite for his exaggerated tales of business success and schemes with Rodney Trotter. He also appeared in films such as Curse of the Pink Panther and The Firm.

 

The actor had earlier stepped away from acting after struggling with alcohol, later joining Alcoholics Anonymous before making a brief comeback in the Amazon Prime series Conditions in 2019. He starred in 13 episodes of the one-series drama, playing Frank Bridge.

 

Tributes have begun to emerge from colleagues and friends. Carol Challis, widow of Murray’s late co-star John Challis, paid her condolences to Murray’s family, writing on X that her thoughts were with Anong and Josie.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Patrick Murray, best known as Mickey Pearce in Only Fools and Horses, has died aged 68 after battling lung cancer.

• He worked as a taxi driver in Kent to meet visa requirements and reunite his wife Anong and daughter Josie with him in the UK.

• Tributes have been paid, including from Carol Challis, widow of co-star John Challis, who died in 2021.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Dailymail 2025-10-04

 

 

 

Yeah, also the lady in 'Keeping Up Appearances' recently passed. Such great comedy from times when English could laugh!

I had a really good conversation with him at the Crazy Dave Bar in Soi Chayapoom, Pattaya (running replays of Only Fools and Horses 24/7), really decent guy. RIP

1 hour ago, Henk Langeweg said:

I had a really good conversation with him at the Crazy Dave Bar in Soi Chayapoom, Pattaya (running replays of Only Fools and Horses 24/7), really decent guy. RIP

Crazy Daves, high quality place.

Poor guy. Not a good day for the people who kept my spirits up. 

sad stuff not being able to bring his family back ..

 

2 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Patrick Murray

Never heard of the fella.

2 hours ago, novacova said:

Never heard of the fella.

Detective Frost.

3 hours ago, save the frogs said:

sad stuff not being able to bring his family back ..

 

"He was finally reunited with his wife and child in Britain in 2018 after the prolonged visa struggle."

6 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Patrick Murray, best known for playing Mickey Pearce in the BBC comedy Only Fools and Horses, has died aged 68 following a battle with lung cancer

I must be older than I thought

49 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

"He was finally reunited with his wife and child in Britain in 2018 after the prolonged visa struggle."

So... Only two years after they were married and the kid was born.

The UK. Second highest income requirements in the world for a spouse visa (after Norway).

No prizes guessing why he had lung cancer 

3 hours ago, Henk Langeweg said:

Detective Frost.

 

Unfortunately - wrong.

 

Detective Inspector Jack Frost was played by David Jason, the other star in Only Fools and Horses.

1 hour ago, morrobay said:

No prizes guessing why he had lung cancer 

Smoking ?

His life story could easily become a movie. RIP Patrick.  

11 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

 

Pictures courtesy of Daily Mail

 

Patrick Murray, best known for playing Mickey Pearce in the BBC comedy Only Fools and Horses, has died aged 68 following a battle with lung cancer. The actor’s death on 29 September, was confirmed on 2 October, marking the end of a long struggle with illness that returned and spread.

 

Murray’s later years were defined by both health battles and financial struggles. After finding TV and film roles had dried up, he took work driving cars in Kent in order to raise enough money to bring his wife and daughter from Thailand. He revealed he became a taxi driver, chauffeuring people in a Mercedes Benz, while waiting for Home Office approval on family visas.

 

He met his wife Anong, now 36, in Pattaya, in 2016 and married her there, the same year. Their daughter Josie was born one month later. In 2017, Murray, who had lived in Pattaya, for over a decade, attempted to bring them back to the UK, but their visa applications were initially refused because he did not meet minimum income requirements for non-European spouses.

 

The actor spoke openly about the difficulties of being separated from his family, describing himself as a “Skype dad” who only saw his baby daughter on a phone screen for two years. He was finally reunited with his wife and child in Britain in 2018 after the prolonged visa struggle.

 

In 2023, Murray revealed he was suffering “absolute agony” from cancer which had returned and spread to his legs and pelvis, though he remained hopeful about radiology treatment. He had previously undergone surgery to remove part of his liver and a malignant growth in 2022, alongside chemotherapy following an earlier lung cancer diagnosis in 2021. At one point, he announced his lung cancer was cured and that a liver tumour was shrinking.

 

Murray was a familiar face on British screens for decades. He first came to prominence in gritty 1970s dramas including Scum and Quadrophenia. His long-running role as Mickey Pearce in Only Fools and Horses spanned from 1983 to 2023, where he became a fan favourite for his exaggerated tales of business success and schemes with Rodney Trotter. He also appeared in films such as Curse of the Pink Panther and The Firm.

 

The actor had earlier stepped away from acting after struggling with alcohol, later joining Alcoholics Anonymous before making a brief comeback in the Amazon Prime series Conditions in 2019. He starred in 13 episodes of the one-series drama, playing Frank Bridge.

 

Tributes have begun to emerge from colleagues and friends. Carol Challis, widow of Murray’s late co-star John Challis, paid her condolences to Murray’s family, writing on X that her thoughts were with Anong and Josie.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Patrick Murray, best known as Mickey Pearce in Only Fools and Horses, has died aged 68 after battling lung cancer.

• He worked as a taxi driver in Kent to meet visa requirements and reunite his wife Anong and daughter Josie with him in the UK.

• Tributes have been paid, including from Carol Challis, widow of co-star John Challis, who died in 2021.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Dailymail 2025-10-04

 

 

 

RIP "Mickey". You gave me plenty of laughs.

I remember years ago reading about his visa struggles
 

One of the best tv series ever made and his character Mickey was fantastic 

10 hours ago, save the frogs said:

sad stuff not being able to bring his family back ..

 

Yeah, but tell that to all the people saying all immigrants should be kicked out of the UK.

He also acted in the borstal movie scum with Ray Winston it was banned from BBC for many years

12 hours ago, Henk Langeweg said:

I had a really good conversation with him at the Crazy Dave Bar in Soi Chayapoom, Pattaya (running replays of Only Fools and Horses 24/7), really decent guy. RIP

 

It's extra sad to lose what seems like a good guy.

 

12 hours ago, novacova said:

Never heard of the fella.

 

So you came on here to display your ignorance?

 

Why do you think its important that we know you've never heard of him?

 

Why click on the thread if you have no idea who he was?

21 hours ago, PJ71 said:

Crazy Daves, high quality place.

Regaled for the 99 baht breakfast, no substitutions, served up with a scowl by the most miserable face in town. But I liked it back then!

23 hours ago, novacova said:

Never heard of the fella.

Then kindly refrain from being ignorant enough to mention it.

To many of us here, he was a well-known, regular character in a long period of comedy series about East Londoners in the 1970s - 1990s, watched and enjoyed by millions; watched repeatedly thereafter by younger generations and is still regarded as one of the best comedy series of all time.

 

There. I have now educated you.

Don't bother checking it out if you are American - you wouldn't understand it.

23 hours ago, novacova said:

Never heard of the fella.

...and I've never heard of you - jog on fella!

On 10/4/2025 at 9:08 AM, jacko45k said:

Yeah, also the lady in 'Keeping Up Appearances' recently passed. Such great comedy from times when English could laugh!

Mrs bucket ?

29 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

Mrs bucket ?

"It's bouquet!" 

On 10/4/2025 at 2:55 AM, novacova said:

Never heard of the fella.

I doubt he had heard of you also ,

 

6 hours ago, Bundooman said:

Then kindly refrain from being ignorant enough to mention it.

To many of us here, he was a well-known, regular character in a long period of comedy series about East Londoners in the 1970s - 1990s, watched and enjoyed by millions; watched repeatedly thereafter by younger generations and is still regarded as one of the best comedy series of all time.

 

There. I have now educated you.

Don't bother checking it out if you are American - you wouldn't understand it.

They might have made a remake?

 

i am sure that would have been awesome 😜