Only Fools' Grandad Died 40 Years Ago.

Today is 40 years since Only Fools and Horses actor Lennard Pearce died.

On December 15, 1984, Lennard Pearce, the actor known for his role as Grandad in Only Fools and Horses, passed away at age 69. A heart attack caused his death.

Pearce was born in October 1915, the youngest of five children. He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and during his long theatrical career, he appeared in many plays at the National Theatre, working alongside legends such as Laurence Olivier and Anthony Hopkins. 

His portrayal of Grandad, beginning in 1981, alongside David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst, made him a favourite character on TV.

Pearce was filming the fourth series of Only Fools and Horses when he was admitted to a hospital on December 15 following chest pains, only to pass away 2 days later after being allowed to go home.

Production stopped temporarily because of his unexpected death, which devastated the cast and crew. The show wrote out Pearce's character, Grandad, and replaced him with Uncle Albert, played by Buster Merryfield.

Lennard Pearce's time on the show was short (only 3 series), yet his portrayal of Grandad made him a beloved figure in British television history.