The Only Fools and Horses actors’ very ordinary lives before finding fame on sitcom from Sir David Jason to Buster Merryfield
Here MyLondon takes a look at the different jobs the beloved Only Fools and Horses cast had before starring in the sitcom
Only Fools and Horses is one of the British public’s most cherished sitcoms. The BBC sitcom, created by John Sullivan, was first broadcast in 1981 and follows wheeler-dealer Del Boy and the Trotter family on quests to make quick cash, and eventually become millionaires.
The beloved show ran up until 2003. The very last episode, which concluded the sitcom, was titled “Sleepless in Peckham.” The legendary cast of Only Fools are well-known among comedy fans. Since first appearing on our screens back in the 80’s, the cast reached stardom by playing their iconic characters.
But some fans will be surprised to know that their favourite actors had regular jobs to help them pay the bills before pursuing an acting career- from working as a bank manager to real estate agent. Here we take a look at their once serious jobs.
Buster Merryfield
Actor Buster Merryfield lived a totally ordinary life before finding fame on the sitcom. He worked as a bank manager before landing the role of Uncle Albert aged 65. Buster fuelled his creative passion through working as an amateur actor and director aged 57.
After having only had a few years of acting experience, he finally landed a professional acting gig on Only Fools and Horses. He joined the show’s fourth season as Uncle Albert.
In an old interview, Buster previously opened up about his life before the sitcom, saying: “I worked in a bank before the war. By the time it finished – I was in the Army not the navy, by the way – I was married with a young daughter on the way. I would have been stupid to go into acting. So I settled back into banking.” Before the show ended, Buster tragically passed on June 23, 1999.
Sir David Jason
Only Fools and Horses star Sir David Jason had an unlikely day job before becoming a famous actor. According to his autobiography Del of a Life: The Lessons I’ve Learned, David had completed an apprenticeship with the Electricity Board at Enfield Technical College before being let out into the real world.
It would seem being an electrician was not meant to be as David started his television career in 1964 playing the part of Bert Bradshaw in Crossroads. He later got the role of Del Boy in 1981.
John Challis
John Challis was best-known for playing Terrance Aubrey “Boycie” Boyce on Only Fools and Horses. Born in Bristol, the actor later had to move to South East London with his family when he was just one. John worked as an estate agent before becoming a professional actor.
Before his big break in Only Fools, he appeared in a number of shows from Big Breadwinner Hog in 1969, and between 1971 and 1975, made regular appearances in Z-Cars, playing Sergeant Culshaw. Sadly, the actor died late last year on the 19th of September 2021.
Lennard Pearce
Lennard Pearce was best-known for playing Grandad on the hit BBC sitcom. However, before playing his character in Only Fools and Horses, the actor took on a variety of different jobs. One of his very earliest jobs was working as a stage actor and touring Europe back in the 1930s.
