{"id":457056,"date":"2025-10-07T18:54:08","date_gmt":"2025-10-07T17:54:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/?p=457056"},"modified":"2025-10-07T18:54:15","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T17:54:15","slug":"tributes-pour-in-for-legendary-only-fools-and-horses-actor-patrick-murray-aka-mickey-pearce","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/peckham\/tributes-pour-in-for-legendary-only-fools-and-horses-actor-patrick-murray-aka-mickey-pearce\/","title":{"rendered":"Tributes pour in for &#8216;legendary&#8217; Only Fools and Horses actor Patrick Murray aka Mickey Pearce"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Tributes have begun pouring in for Patrick Murray, best known for starring as Mickey Pearce in Only Fools and Horses, who died last week at the age of 68.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Last week Thursday (October 2) the Only Fools and Horses Appreciation Society shared the tragic news that Murray had passed away in Rochester where he lived after a four-year battle with lung cancer.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"69959\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448384\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">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<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>Announcing his death on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Onlyfoolsappreciationsociety\/posts\/patrick-murray-it-is-with-heartfelt-sadness-that-we-report-the-death-of-our-frie\/1104854481857901\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Facebook<\/a>, the Only Fools and Horses Appreciation Society said it was with \u201cheartfelt sadness that we announce the death of our friend Patrick Murray &#8211; Mickey Pearce to so many.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHe was a regular attendee of our conventions and we will miss his humour and the joy he bought to many.&#8221;<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"68153\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448385\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMjk4MTYzNDc4NiIgY2xhc3M9InNvdXRoLWNvbnRlbnQgc291dGgtZW50aXR5LXBsYWNlbWVudCIgc3R5bGU9Im1hcmdpbi1sZWZ0OiBhdXRvO21hcmdpbi1yaWdodDogYXV0bzt0ZXh0LWFsaWduOiBjZW50ZXI7Ij48IS0tICAvMTU0NzI1MDcwLDIyNjk0MTk2OTY5L3NvdXRod2Fya25ld3Mvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cyAtLT4NCjxkaXYgaWQ9ImRpdi1ncHQtYWQtMngxIj4NCjxzY3JpcHQ+DQpnb29nbGV0YWcuY21kLnB1c2goZnVuY3Rpb24oKSB7IGdvb2dsZXRhZy5kaXNwbGF5KCdkaXYtZ3B0LWFkLTJ4MScpOyB9KTsNCjwvc2NyaXB0Pg0KPC9kaXY+ICAgICAgICAgIDwvZGl2Pg==<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>Patrick was born in 1956 and grew up on a council estate in Greenwich before going on to attend school in Nunhead &#8211; St Francesca Cabrini Primary followed by St Thomas the Apostle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-southwark-news wp-block-embed-southwark-news\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"DkPf3ku0AReIColgR9NGExBgQVOGDJQMKHsmFTFl2yL56v2tNiWbdnCuhidzwyE6ZUHIcpX78oSajqchW9K0USP\"><blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"uXiY9Jc8Q8\"><a href=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/peckham\/a-less-woke-approach-is-this-the-strictest-school-in-southwark\/\">A &#8216;less woke&#8217; approach: Is this the strictest school in Southwark?<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;A &#8216;less woke&#8217; approach: Is this the strictest school in Southwark?&#8221; &#8212; Southwark News\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/peckham\/a-less-woke-approach-is-this-the-strictest-school-in-southwark\/embed\/#?secret=BFT3xARHv1#?secret=uXiY9Jc8Q8\" data-secret=\"uXiY9Jc8Q8\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>He entered the world of acting at a young age, nabbing his first role on the stage at the young age of 15.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"71156\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448386\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMTc1NTIzNDA1IiBjbGFzcz0ic291dGgtaW4tYXJ0aWNsZS1tcHU5IHNvdXRoLWVudGl0eS1wbGFjZW1lbnQiPjwhLS0gIC8xNTQ3MjUwNzAsMjI2OTQxOTY5Njkvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cy9zb3V0aHdhcmtuZXdzIC0tPg0KPGRpdiBpZD0iZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHU5Ij4NCjxzY3JpcHQ+DQpnb29nbGV0YWcuY21kLnB1c2goZnVuY3Rpb24oKSB7IGdvb2dsZXRhZy5kaXNwbGF5KCdkaXYtZ3B0LWFkLW1wdTknKTsgfSk7DQo8L3NjcmlwdD4NCjwvZGl2PiAgICAgPC9kaXY+<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>Throughout his career Patrick starred in many big projects &#8211;\u00a0 The Firm, Scum, Quadrophenia, Curse of the Pink Panther and Bergerac &#8211; but was best known for the character of Mickey Pearce in the now iconic Peckham-based sitcom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In later life, Patrick withdrew from the acting world and began working as a cabbie in Kent and South east London.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Murray had been battling cancer since 2021 when he first revealed doctors had discovered a tumour in his lung. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He underwent surgery at King&#8217;s College Hospital to remove the lung tumour and a second tumour in his liver, announcing in 2022 that doctors had given him the all-clear.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"71157\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448387\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMjE1ODM3OTI5NyIgY2xhc3M9InNvdXRoLWluLWFydGljbGUtbXB1LTEwIHNvdXRoLWVudGl0eS1wbGFjZW1lbnQiPjwhLS0gIC8xNTQ3MjUwNzAsMjI2OTQxOTY5Njkvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cy9zb3V0aHdhcmtuZXdzIC0tPg0KPGRpdiBpZD0iZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHUxMCI+DQo8c2NyaXB0Pg0KZ29vZ2xldGFnLmNtZC5wdXNoKGZ1bmN0aW9uKCkgeyBnb29nbGV0YWcuZGlzcGxheSgnZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHUxMCcpOyB9KTsNCjwvc2NyaXB0Pg0KPC9kaXY+ICAgICA8L2Rpdj4=<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>But in April 2023 he revealed his lung cancer had returned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-southwark-news wp-block-embed-southwark-news\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"pD45WT6Ah8IdDUs2xsWk7rl1mCjgGG71eqiNhIwjBtZMyt2YmVQvivx9lEe4RyJwOuEYKobcb\"><blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"dWqE2z9sBA\"><a href=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/peckham\/only-fools-and-horses-peckham-flat-would-be-worth-500000-today\/\">Only Fools and Horses Peckham flat &#8216;would be worth \u00a3500,000 today&#8217;<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Only Fools and Horses Peckham flat &#8216;would be worth \u00a3500,000 today&#8217;&#8221; &#8212; Southwark News\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/peckham\/only-fools-and-horses-peckham-flat-would-be-worth-500000-today\/embed\/#?secret=czAQDtgKID#?secret=dWqE2z9sBA\" data-secret=\"dWqE2z9sBA\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Tributes have been pouring through for the actor on Facebook, with fans offering condolences to Patrick&#8217;s family and sharing their personal memories and encounters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One fan commented:  &#8220;Rest peacefully Patrick. Mickey Pearce was a legendary character in fools. Thank you for the laughs, you\u2019re going to be missed.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cPatrick used to be a cabby in Blackheath in the 90s and often I would get him to drive me home after a late night out at the pub,\u201d remembered a user. \u201cHe would do this in between his bouts of acting\u2026. This is very sad news.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another wrote:&nbsp; \u201cAt the height of his fame, I regularly played snooker with him at the New Cross CIU club. He was a good player. Fame never went to his head.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;I used to drink with him back in the 90s around nunhead\/ new cross, south east London,we went to the same primary and secondary schools although he was a few years older than me,&#8221; recalled another.  &#8220;I was chatting to him on messenger last year and he said that he was feeling poorly. Sad to hear about this.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-southwark-news wp-block-embed-southwark-news\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"kyotbDCihzwnwbSoeNeGp6BA7Z5PuI0IQtv9m3Ukj4rWTfVE9201NV3MpLaJrvYi8CxhYXZKFaOg4cxq2ydg1RTAFdmQB7\"><blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"JgZwDf5Td0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/peckham\/only-fools-and-horses-boycie-says-peckham-has-become-too-gentrified\/\">Only Fools and Horses&#8217; Boycie says Peckham has become too gentrified<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Only Fools and Horses&#8217; Boycie says Peckham has become too gentrified&#8221; &#8212; Southwark News\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/peckham\/only-fools-and-horses-boycie-says-peckham-has-become-too-gentrified\/embed\/#?secret=D8RrqyeLcz#?secret=JgZwDf5Td0\" data-secret=\"JgZwDf5Td0\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tributes have begun pouring in for Patrick Murray, best known for starring as Mickey Pearce in Only Fools and Horses, who died last week at the age of 68.&nbsp; Last week Thursday (October 2) the Only Fools and Horses Appreciation Society shared the tragic news that Murray had passed away in Rochester where he lived [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19207,"featured_media":457057,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":{"format":"standard","override":[{"template":"1","parallax":"1","fullscreen":"1","layout":"right-sidebar","sidebar":"default-sidebar","second_sidebar":"default-sidebar","sticky_sidebar":"1","share_position":"top","share_float_style":"share-monocrhome","show_share_counter":"1","show_view_counter":"1","show_featured":"1","show_post_meta":"1","show_post_author":"1","show_post_author_image":"1","show_post_date":"1","post_date_format":"default","post_date_format_custom":"Y\/m\/d","show_post_category":"1","show_post_reading_time":"0","post_reading_time_wpm":"300","post_calculate_word_method":"str_word_count","show_zoom_button":"0","zoom_button_out_step":"2","zoom_button_in_step":"3","show_post_tag":"1","show_prev_next_post":"1","show_popup_post":"1","number_popup_post":"1","show_author_box":"1","show_inline_post_related":"1"}],"image_override":[{"single_post_thumbnail_size":"crop-500","single_post_gallery_size":"crop-500"}],"trending_post_position":"meta","trending_post_label":"Trending","sponsored_post_label":"Sponsored by","disable_ad":"0","subtitle":"He attend school in Nunhead - St Francesca Cabrini Primary followed by St Thomas the Apostle"},"jnews_primary_category":{"id":"36"},"jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_override_counter":{"view_counter_number":"0","share_counter_number":"0","like_counter_number":"0","dislike_counter_number":"0"},"footnotes":""},"categories":[7375,13539,13602,18168,36,17333,33],"tags":[9802],"class_list":["post-457056","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","category-featured","category-news","category-nostalgia","category-nunhead","category-obituaries","category-peckham","tag-only-fools-and-horses"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/457056","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19207"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=457056"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/457056\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/457057"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=457056"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=457056"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=457056"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}