Nicholas Lyndhurst: Inside Only Fools and Horses’ star’s family life – from beautiful wife to tragic loss

Nicholas Lyndhurst is a household name thanks to his illustrious TV career with his most famous role being Rodney Trotter in the hit sitcom, Only Fools and Horses.

Despite his high levels of fame, the star often keeps his personal life out of the spotlight. Away from the cameras, the 63-year-old is happily married to his wife Lucy, however, the couple were dealt a personal tragedy in 2020 when their son Archie sadly passed away at the age of 19.

Find out everything you need to know about the actor’s life and career.

Wife

Nicholas lives a quiet life in West Sussex with his wife Lucy, a former ballet dancer. The couple met in 1992 after Lucy watched her future husband perform in the West End show, Straight and Narrow. They tied the knot in 1999 in a small ceremony in Chichester before going on to welcome their son, Archie, in October 2000.

© Photo: Getty Images

Late son

The family faced a devastating tragedy in September 2020 when Archie died aged 19 after suffering an intracerebral haemorrhage which was caused by a rare condition called acute lymphoblastic lymphoma. The teenager, who passed away in his sleep, showed no signs of illness prior to his death and had been training to be an actor, appearing in the CBBC series So Awkward. 

Lucy shared a heartbreaking tribute to her son in a post revealing his cause of death in January 2021. “The world is a very different place without him,” she wrote on social media.

© Dan Wooller/Shutterstock

“One of my last conversations with him was about all that was going on in the world, the chaos, anger about all different subjects. He looked at me with his huge blue soulful eyes, shook his head and said ‘All the world need is love Mama, it’s so easy to love’.”

The message continued: “He loved life, he valued everyone in it and every moment he was given. He was always singing, and had such energy and passion in everything he did. To be part of his life has been the biggest joy mad honour. We miss him everyday and always will.”

TV career

Nicholas rose to prominence as Rodney Trotter, the younger brother of David Jason’s Del Boy in Only Fools and Horses. His performance in the comedy captured the nation’s hearts and even led to three BAFTA nominations. The show, which ran from 1981 until 2003, was voted Britain’s Best Sitcom by TV viewers in a 2004 poll. 

Before he found fame in Only Fools and Horses, Nicholas began his career appearing in adverts and children’s films during the 1970s before landing his first major role in the BBC sitcom Butterflies, in which he played Adam Parkinson. 

Nicholas went on to appear in various TV dramas during the 80s and 90s, including the ITV comedy, The Two of Us, in which he starred alongside Janet Dibley. He also played the main character Gary Sparrow in the BBC’s time travel sitcom, Goodnight Sweetheart – a role which won him two National Television Awards in 1998 and 1999. 

© Getty Images/TV Times

Some of his most recent credits include the BBC police drama, New Tricks, joining the main cast as Dan Griffin, a role he played from 2013 to 2015 and he has been appearing in the Fraiser reboot as Alan Cornwall, a friend of the titular character.