Frasier star Nicholas Lyndhurst’s life from Only Fools and Horses fame to tragic loss
The adored actor returns to screens on Friday as he stars in the Frasier reboot
Nicholas Lyndhurst is returning to television screens today (Friday, October 13) as Frasier is re-booted on Paramount+. Frasier, a spin-off of Cheers, sees Kelsey Grammer revive his role as psychiatrist Dr Frasier Crane 19 years after the show ended.
Lyndhurst will play Frasier’s old college friend-turned-university professor Alan Cornwall, as he joins the 10-episode season. His new character appears to be accentuated upper class and perhaps more high pitched than we’re used to in his role as the dim-witted South East Londoner.
The British television legend needs no introduction. But for any new Lyndhurst fans, or those that need reminding, let’s take a peek into the adored actor’s life away from the camera.
Nicholas Lyndhurst (right) as Frasier’s old college buddy turned university professor Alan; Toks Olagundoye (left) as Olivia; and Kelsey Grammer as Frasier Crane in Frasier (Image: Chris Haston/Paramount+/PA Wire)
Nicholas Lyndhurst’s rise to fame and beyond
Long before Nicholas, 62, arrived in Peckham as dodgy dealer Rodders in Only Fools and Horses, he was already a child star and no stranger to the small screen.
Born in Hampshire, England, on April 20, 1961, Nicholas was destined for a life in front of the camera from a very young age. He attended the Corona Theatre School in London and kick-started his acting career as a young child actor back in 1974, playing the part of Peter in the television show Heidi.
One year later Nicholas played Davy Keith in Anne of Avonlea before landing a major role in 1976. At only 15 years old the actor starred as both the Prince and the Pauper in the much-loved BBC drama adaptation of Mark Twain’s classic novel about mistaken identities.
The six-part mini-series was first broadcast in 1976 for a children’s TV slot but soon became essential viewing for the whole family. He then appeared in the series Going Straight as Raymond Fletcher, before portraying Karl Brandt in The Tomorrow People, Dobson in To Serve Them All My Days, and Private Wilson in Spearhead.
In 1981, Nicholas arrived on screens as Rodney Trotter in Only Fools and Horses for a very first episode called Big Brother. Created by John Sullivan, Only Fools follows the trials of Tribulations of the Trotter family living in Peckham, South London.
Sir David Jason played the role of Del Boy who is famed for saying “This time next year “This time next year, we’ll be millionaires!”, while often referring to his younger brother Rodney as a “plonker”.
The BBC broadcast last ever Only Fools episode aired in 2003 and it has gone on to become the most popular sitcom in British comedy history.
Life After Only Fools
Nicholas also played the part of Freddie Robdal, Rodney Trotter’s biological dad, in Only Fools prequel Rock and Chips (2010-2011). Comedy fans will also remember Goodnight Sweetheart where he played the leading role as Gary Sparrow and Colonel Henri Dupont.
The plot follows TV repairman Gary attending a call-out in London’s East End, where he accidentally discovers a time portal at Duckett’s Passage, which leads to wartime London.
Nicholas has also starred in a list of other TV shows including After You’ve Gone (2008), Danny Griffen in New Tricks (2013-2015), and Johnny in So Awkward (2019).
Nicholas’ family life
Nicholas married former English National Ballet dancer Lucy Smith in 1999 in Chichester, West Sussex. The pair met in 1992, after she saw him twice in the West End show, Straight and Narrow, and decided to leave him a bottle of champagne and a message, reports Daily Feed.
However, Nicholas had already spotted her in the front row and invited her for a drink with the cast. The couple has been together since.
Nicholas and Lucy have been left heartbroken after their 19-year-old son Archie died in September 2020. The results of a second post-mortem informed Lucy and Nicholas that their son suffered an intracerebral haemorrhage which was caused by acute lymphoblastic lymphoma.
They laid their son to rest at a “tiny chapel” in November 2020. Archie followed in his dad’s footsteps and acted in shows such as So Awkward having trained at the Sylvia Young Theatre School.
Like his father, Archie bagged his first role aged 11 and he went on to appear in TV shows including Casualty and Bad Education. At the time of his tragic death, he was in a relationship with his co-star, Nethra Tilakumara.
Nicholas’ hobbies
Not only is Nicholas Lyndhurst an incredibly talented actor, but he’s also a trained pilot – yep, he can fly planes! In his downtime, Nicholas pursues a number of interesting hobbies, including the high-risk sport of underwater diving.
The actor was even asked to present a show on diving, which he turned down, telling the Belfast Telegraph: “It was mooted once, not by me. I’m of the generation, I remember [marine expert] Jacques Cousteau and he did it best, leave it to him.”
He continued: “Just because I’m ‘off the telly’ doesn’t make it any more interesting that I go diving. I want an expert to entertain me about all things like that. Again with the flying. Go and watch the History Channel if you want to watch that sort of thing.
“I don’t think I’m very good at presenting myself to camera, I don’t think”. He also enjoys beekeeping!
Nicholas’ net worth
According to Celebrity NetWorth, Nicholas Lyndhurst is worth $5 million, which converted to pounds is over £4 million.
The new take on Frasier begins streaming in the UK on Friday, October 13. This autumn marks 30 years since the original series premiered on NBC. It became one of the most successful sitcoms of all time, with 107 Emmy nominations and 37 wins – the most all-time wins for any comedy series.
New episodes in Frasier’s 10-episode season will come out every Thursday. Paramount will also air the first two episodes of the new Frasier show on CBS on October 17, according to a press release.
