‘Only Fools and Horses’ Star Dies at 68 After Cancer Battle
Patrick Murray, who became a familiar face to millions of viewers through his role as Mickey Pearce in the classic sitcom Only Fools and Horses, has died at the age of 68.
His passing was confirmed in a statement shared on an Only Fools fan page. The message read: “It is with heartfelt sadness that we report the death of our friend Patrick Murray – Mickey Pearce to so many. He was a regular attendee of our conventions, and we will miss his humour and the joy he brought to many.”
Patrick Murray
— Only Fools and Horses News (@onlyfoolsnews) October 2, 2025
It is with heartfelt sadness that we report the death of our friend Patrick Murray – Mickey Pearce to so many
He was a regular attendee of our conventions and we will miss his humour and the joy he bought to many
Sleep Well Pat! pic.twitter.com/YEvXkJaGX7
Murray had been battling serious health problems for several years. He first revealed in 2021 that he was fighting lung cancer. Doctors later found a tumour in his liver, which led to surgery. By 2022, he announced that treatment had been successful and he had been given the all-clear.
But the relief was short-lived. In 2023, he told fans that the cancer had returned and spread to other parts of his body, including his legs and pelvis. He died in his sleep on September 29.
Fans and colleagues have shared tributes since the news broke. The Only Fools podcast wrote on X: “This never gets easier … rest in peace, Patrick Murray. Patrick was a very talented & clever actor with impeccable timing. He really bought ‘Mickey Pearce’ to life with a mischievous charm.”
Murray appeared in 20 episodes of Only Fools and Horses between 1983 and 2003. His character Mickey Pearce was known as a brash wheeler-dealer who often clashed with Rodney. Away from the sitcom, Murray also worked in films such as The Firm and Curse of the Pink Panther, but later stepped away from the screen. He drove taxis in Kent for many years to support his family.
Health challenges were a constant part of his later life. Along with lung cancer, Murray was also treated for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Despite his own struggles, he stayed connected to fans through charity work and conventions, often making time to meet people who loved the show.
Murray also spoke openly about personal battles outside of acting. He faced alcoholism in the 1990s but recovered with the help of Alcoholics Anonymous.
He later moved to Thailand, where he married his wife Anong in 2016 and welcomed a daughter, Josie. He returned to the UK but for years was separated from his family due to visa issues, something he once described as one of the hardest periods of his life.
Patrick Murray’s story is one of success on screen, but also of determination in the face of illness and personal setbacks. His honesty about his health gave fans a clear picture of the toll that cancer and COPD take, and how difficult the journey can be even when treatments seem to work.
Patrick Murray will be remembered not just for Mickey Pearce, but for the resilience he showed off screen as well.
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