Only Fools and Horses star Michael Jayston dies after a 'short illness'
Only Fools and Horses star Michael Jayston has died aged 88 after a 'short illness'.
Michael is known for playing the father of Rachel Turner in the 1996 BBC sitcom Christmas episode where Derek Edward 'Del Boy' Trotter and Rodney Trotter get their big break at an auction. His character, James Turner, was an antiques expert who noticed Del Boy and Rodney had a rare watch which the brothers quickly went to auction off for a whopping £6.2million.
He also played the Valeyard in fourteen episodes of Doctor Who. In the conclusion, the Valeyard was revealed to be a manifestation of the Doctor's dark side. He played Donald De Souza in Emmerdale and appeared in EastEnders and Coronation Street.
The actor's agent announced the news on behalf of his family. M&M Famous Faces said: "It is with great sadness, that I have been asked by his family to share the news, Michael Jayston sadly passed away this morning after a short illness. Those who knew Michael will know he was full of love, laughs and happiness. He adored meeting his fans all over the world. His family and friends would appreciate privacy at this time.”
Michael died after a short illness (Can Nguyen/REX/Shutterstock)
He appeared in Only Fools and Horses and Doctor WhoAside from being James in Only Fools And Horses, Jayston also played a main role in the historical film Nicholas And Alexandra about the last days of the Tsars in Russia and the relationship between Nicholas II of Russia and his wife. The movie also featured Doctor Who star Tom Baker as Grigori Rasputin and Lord Laurence Olivier.
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The actor was born in West Bridgford, Nottingham as Michael A James. He was the only son of Aubrey Vincent James and Edna Myfanwy Medcalfe. He attended the Becket RC School and trained in acting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
He began his stage career in 1962 and performed at the Bristol Old Vic. Michael starred as Captain Von Trapp in the 1981 stage production of The Sound of Music at the Apollo Victoria. He took on Shakespearean roles such as Macbeth in Macbeth, Gratiano in The Merchant of Venice and Edmund in King Lear.
His friends and family paid tribute to the star (Getty Images)Other TV appearances include The Edwardians, Jane Eyre, Thriller, She Fell Among Thieves and in the series version of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. EastEnders fans will also remember him as the friend of Frank Butcher from the soap over 20 years ago. After Peggy Mitchell found out her husband wasn't dead, she went for a drink and hit it off with Frank's pal Alistair (played by Michael).
He also appeared in the 1990s ITV police comedy-drama The Good Guys with Coronation Street actor Nigel Havers and Call The Midwife actress Jenny Agutter. He played The Confessor in Roger Crane's play The Last Confession opposite David Suchet as Cardinal Benelli at Chichester Festival Theatre in May 2007.
In the ITV soap Emmerdale, from 2007 to 2008, Jayston played Nicola King’s (Nicola Wheeler) husband briefly before his character died within a year of moving to the Yorkshire village.
After learning of his death, friends took to social media to pay tribute to him. The Brothers actor Colin Baker said: "My dear dear friend, Michael Jayston has left us today. I am absolutely devastated. He was warm witty, clever naughty and a very fine actor & wonderful man. My thoughts and love go to his wife Ann and daughter Katie. Heartbroken Goodbye my friend."
Writer Gareth Roberts posted: "Farewell, Michael Jayston. What a talent - and what a voice!" while one fan said: "RIP Michael Jayston, a class actor all the way, and a champion of the catharsis of spurious morality."
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