Thursday, January 16, 2014

Roger Lloyd Pack, star of Only Fools and Horses, dies aged 69




Roger Lloyd Pack, the British actor known to millions as slow-witted roadsweeper Trigger in BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses, has died aged 69.
Well-known for his rubbery face and lugubrious delivery, he also appeared as Owen Newitt in The Vicar of Dibley.
Born in Islington, north London in 1944, he was the son of Hammer horror actor Charles Lloyd Pack and the father of actress Emily Lloyd.
His agent confirmed he died of pancreatic cancer on Wednesday night.
Sir David Jason spoke of his sadness at the news, calling his co-star "a very quiet, kind and unassuming actor who was a pleasure to work with".
"Although he played the simple soul of Trigger in Only Fools and Horses, he was a very intelligent man and a very fine actor capable of many roles," continued the actor, who played Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter in the show.
"I shall remember him with fondness and for all the good times we had together."
Nicholas Lyndhurst, who played Del Boy's younger brother Rodney, said he was "so saddened to hear about Roger".
"He was the most accomplished actor and loved by millions. I will miss him greatly."
A versatile character actor who was at home with both comedy and drama, Lloyd Pack studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (Rada) before making his stage debut in Northampton.
After appearances in The Avengers and other TV shows, his screen debut came in 1968 when he played a small part in The Magus.
His breakthrough came in 1981 when he was cast as Colin 'Trigger' Ball, the dim but amiable roadsweeper who always called Lyndhurst's character "Dave".
"If it's a girl they're calling her Sigourney after an actress," he said of Del Boy's child-to-be. "And if it's a boy they're naming him Rodney, after Dave."
Lloyd Pack was the only actor, apart from Lyndhurst and Jason, to appear in both the first and last episode of the much-loved sitcom.
Its success would lead the actor to call his role "both a blessing and a curse" and express bemusement about his popularity with audiences.