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Only Fools and Horses Mickey Pearce star Patrick Murray dies after tragic lung cancer battle

Only Fools and Horses star Patrick Murray, famed for playing Mickey Pearce in the beloved BBC sitcom, has sadly passed after living with lung cancer which had spread

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Only Fools legend Patrick Murray has sadly died(Image: BBC)

Only Fools and Horses star Patrick Murray has sadly died aged 68 after his battle with cancer.

The beloved actor was famed for playing Mickey Pearce in the BBC sitcom from 1983 until 2003. Pearce also had roles in the iconic 1970s films Scum and The Who's rock opera Quadrophenia.

Murray announced he had lung cancer back in 2021. The following year, he revealed he'd been given the all-clear and that his cancer had been "cured" after undergoing chemo and an op to remove a cancerous tumour.

The star also explained he'd had another operation - called a TACE - to remove a separate, unconnected tumour in his liver which was treatable. He was told the tumour in his liver was "shrinking".

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The actor first announced his lung cancer diagnosis in 2021

However, in April 2023, he told fans the lung cancer had returned despite the "wonderful efforts" of his medics. Murray said the cancer had spread to his pelvis, leg bones and lymphatic system.

The actor's passing was announced on Thursday (October 2) by the Only Fools and Horses News account on X. In a heartfelt statement, they said: "Patrick Murray It is with heartfelt sadness that we report the death of our friend Patrick Murray - Mickey Pearce to so many.

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He was famed for playing Mickey Pearce in Only Fools(Image: BBC)

"He was a regular attendee of our conventions and we will miss his humour and the joy he bought to many Sleep Well Pat!". Tributes to the TV icon have poured in from fans on social media.

One wrote: "Thanks for the Laughs Patrick, really sad news. RIP." Another commented: "Very sad news. Had the pleasure of meeting him, many years ago at one of the conventions."

A third commented: "Rest in peace pat, was fantastic as Mickey Pearce." A fourth penned: "Thats so sad. RIP Patrick and my thoughts are with all his family and friends."

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Mickey (Patrick Murray) and Rodney (Nicholas Lyndhurst)(Image: Getty Images)

Revealing his lung cancer had returned in 2023, Patrick wrote on X: "I have been trying to avoid this tweet for a while, but I owe it to my friends to keep you updated. Despite all the wonderful efforts by the medical and nursing teams at Medway, Guys, and Kings College hospitals, the lung cancer has returned.

"I thought I had a painful groin strain a couple of months ago, unfortunately that turned out to be the cancer getting into my pelvis and leg bones. It has also entered my lymphatic system.

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Pearce with his Only Fools co-stars in 2001, when they did the Christmas Day special(Image: PA/Handout)

However, he reassured fans that he was getting treatment and that his consultant: "What about the good news? I had radiology treatment last week and my oncologist is fairly confident this will stop the leg pain, and I will be up and about again.

"I will also hopefully [be] able to get some shut-eye. Another positive is my consultant. He is confident that the chemo will keep things in check for months and even years.

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Patrick said he would have been willing to do an Only Fools reboot(Image: BBC)

"His optimism comes not from kindness of which I know he has in spades, but advances in cancer medicine. The genetic molecular tests are super precise, and the choice of meds can be made with much more confidence.

Murray added: "I am feeling positive with my good wife's awesome support. Luv'n'Hugs."

The actor had expressed an interest in returning to his role as Mickey in Only Fools in a future reboot. In 2023, he told The Sun: "I'd love it. Getting together again and with all the cast and seeing how all the characters have developed."

He added: "If the quality of the script was there, I imagine the others would be up for it too." He praised the show's late creator, John Sullivan, for being "such a great writer".

But he reckoned John's son Jim, who wrote episodes of spin-off The Green Green Grass and Only Fools and Horses The Musical, could be up to the task of doing the revival. He said he's "really good," adding: "I'm sure he could achieve it."

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