‘Only Fools and Horses’ Star Dies at 68 — Cause of Death Revealed

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Patrick Murray, who was famous for his role as Mickey Pearce in Only Fools and Horses, has passed away at the age of 68.

The unfortunate news was shared on a fanpage dedicated to Only Fools and Horses, where they posted: “We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our friend Patrick Murray – known to many as Mickey Pearce. He was a frequent guest at our events, and we will fondly remember his wit and the happiness he brought to so many.”

Patrick Murray
It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of our friend, Patrick Murray – known to many as Mickey Pearce.

He was a frequent guest at our events, and we will fondly remember his humor and the happiness he brought to so many people.

Rest in peace, Pat!

— Only Fools and Horses News (@onlyfoolsnews) October 2, 2025

I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Murray. He’d been very candid about his health battles over the last few years. He received a lung cancer diagnosis back in 2021, and while he got some good news in 2022 – doctors said the treatment was working – unfortunately, the cancer returned and spread to his legs and pelvis in 2023. He passed away peacefully in his sleep on September 29th, 2025. It’s a tremendously sad loss, and my thoughts are with his family and friends. More details can be found online. He will be missed.

People are already sharing their condolences. The Only Fools podcast posted on X: “This is always difficult news… we’re so sad to hear of Patrick Murray’s passing. Patrick was a really gifted and witty actor with perfect comedic timing. He truly made ‘Mickey Pearce’ memorable with his playful personality.”

Murray portrayed Mickey Pearce in Only Fools and Horses, appearing in 20 episodes between 1983 and 2003. His character was known as a shrewd businessman – a wheeler dealer – who frequently argued with Rodney, typically while bragging about his supposed successes in business or with women.

Beyond his work on the sitcom, he acted in movies such as The Firm and Curse of the Pink Panther, but eventually decided to leave acting. He then worked as a taxi driver in Kent and spent some years living in Thailand. While there, he married his wife, Anong, in 2016, and they had a daughter named Josie. More details available here.

His life wasn’t always simple. He struggled with alcoholism in the 1990s, but he was able to improve his life with support from Alcoholics Anonymous.

He later shared how difficult it was being away from his family due to problems with visas. During an appearance on Loose Women in 2018, he explained: “After being out of work for a while, I couldn’t find acting roles, so I went back to driving an executive car – a Mercedes – to make ends meet. For two years, I only saw my baby over video calls; I was a ‘Skype dad.’”

Murray briefly returned to acting in 2019, appearing in the series Conditions, but his health remained a challenge. He had previously shared in 2018 that he was also battling chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and he continued to receive treatment for it.

Even though he was dealing with health problems, Murray continued to connect with his fans by attending conventions and supporting charitable causes. He even organized a fundraising bus trip in 2018 to benefit a children’s hospice, but unfortunately, it had to be cancelled as his condition worsened. Despite this setback, he remained dedicated to giving back.

Patrick Murray is fondly remembered by a lot of people for his funny and playful portrayal of Mickey Pearce, as well as his kind personality behind the scenes.

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2025-10-03 09:15