Only Fools and Horses star Patrick Murray dies

The 68-year-old actor starred in 20 episodes of the hit comedy series

Patrick Murray and Nicholas Lyndhurst in Only Fools and Horses

Only Fools And Horses star, Patrick Murray, has died at the age of 68.

Murray played Mickey Pearce, the dim-witted friend to David Jason's Del Boy and Nicholas Lyndhurst's Rodney Trotter across 20 episodes between 1983 and 2003 of the BBC comedy series.

A BBC spokesperson said: "We are very sad to hear of the passing of Patrick Murray, much loved for his role as Mickey in Only Fools And Horses, our thoughts are with his friends and family."

The show follows brothers and market traders Del Boy and Rodney as they attempt to buy and sell whatever they can with the hopes of becoming extremely rich.

Only Fools And Horses co-star Sue Holderness, who played Marlene in the sitcom, paid tribute to Murray on X, saying: "R.I.P. darling Patrick. Much love. You will be greatly missed."

(from left) SID (Roy Heather), TRIG (Roger Lloyd Pack),.BOYCIE (John Challis), DENZIL (Patrick Barber), MARLENE (Sue Holderness) and MICKEY PEARCE (Patrick Murray) from the Christmas special of the programme Only Fools and Horses. Picture: BBC

Murray revealed he was diagnosed with cancer in July 2021 and had an operation to remove a lung tumour in its early stages, followed by chemotherapy, in January 2022.

Subsequent scans found another tumour in his liver that was unconnected to his lung cancer and also treatable.

In a health update in May 2022, Murray said his oncologist told him his "lung cancer was cured and that the tumour in my liver was shrinking", however by April 2023 he revealed his lung cancer had returned.

Murray also had roles in 1979 films Quadrophenia and Scum, 1990s TV sitcom The Upper Hand, along with The Bill, ITV Playhouse and Bergerac.