Nicholas Lyndhurst

Nicholas Simon Lyndhurst (born 20 April 1961) is an English actor, Lyndhurst is perhaps best known for his roles as Rodney Trotter in Only Fools and Horses and as Gary Sparrow in Goodnight Sweetheart.

Career

Born on the 20th April 1961, Nicholas was a child student at Corona Stage Academy, he appeared in a succession of television commercials and children's films in the late-1970s, and first gained national recognition at the age of seventeen in the sitcom Butterflies written by Carla Lane, in which he played the character Adam. He then played the teenage son of Norman Stanley 'Fletch' Fletcher played by Ronnie Barker in Going Straight before achieving stardom in the series Only Fools and Horses in which he played Rodney Trotter, the younger brother of the main character Derek "Del Boy" Trotter. In Only Fools and Horses Nicholas was immortalised by the catchphrase aimed at his character 'Rodney, You plonker'.

This programme started as a small comedy in 1981 and rapidly grew in popularity until it reached its peak in 1996 with its Christmas Day show in the UK.

During the 1990s, Lyndhurst also appeared in ITV's The Two of Us with Janet Dibley and The Piglet Files, as well as in a number of stage performances.

Between 1993 and 1999, he played the lead character of Gary Sparrow in the sitcom Goodnight Sweetheart. At around the same time, he was the face and voice on the TV and radio commercials for the telecommunications chain People's Phone.

Between 1997 and 1999, Nicholas Lyndhurst was the public face of the stationery chain store WH Smith, starring in their adverts as all four members of one family. He won a BAFTA for his acting in the adverts.

In 2006, he appeared as Cruella de Vil's chauffeur, Reg Farnsworth, at the Children's Party at the Palace.

In 2007, Lyndhurst returned to the BBC with his first new sitcom in thirteen years, After You've Gone, in which he plays a divorced dad moving back into the marital home to look after his daughter (Dani Harmer) and son (Ryan Sampson) together with his mother-in-law, played by Celia Imrie, after his ex-wife goes to work as a recovery nurse on a third world disaster relief mission.

In July 2009 it was confirmed that Lyndhurst will play Freddie Robdal, the 1960's gangster father of Rodney Trotter in the prequel to Only Fools and Horses; the show will centre around Robdal and Joan Trotter in early 60's Peckham, with filming due to start in August 2009. Transmission is due around Christmas 2009. ^[1]

Personal life

He lives in Sussex with his wife Lucy, a former ballet dancer (married in Chichester, West Sussex, 1999), and their son, Archie Bjorn Lyndhurst (born Westminster, London, 2000). Lyndhurst has a passion for outdoor activities, including flying aeroplanes, surfing and deep-sea diving. He is also a keen beekeeper. ^{[2] [3]}

TV

• Heidi (1974) ... as Peter.
• Anne of Avonlea (1975) ... as Davy Keith.
• The Prince and the Pauper (1976) ... as Prince Edward/Tom Canty.
• Peter Pan (1976) ... as Tootles.
• The Tomorrow People 'Hitler's Last Secret' (1978) ... as Karl Brandt.
• Going Straight (1978) ... as Raymond Fletcher.
• Play of the Week - Fairies (1978) ... as Brian Grant.
• Butterflies (1978-1983) ... as Adam Parkinson.
• Fathers Day (1979) ... as Philip.
• To Serve Them All My Days (1980) ... as Dobson.
• Spearhead (1981) ... as Private Wilson.
• Only Fools and Horses (1981-2003) .. as Rodney Trotter.
• Play for Today - A Mother Like Him (1982) ... as Young Police Constable.
• The Two of Us (1986-1990) ... as Ashley Philips.
• The Piglet Files (1990-1992) ... as Peter Chapman.
• Stalag Luft (1993) ... as Chump Cosgrove.
• Goodnight Sweetheart (1993-1999) ... as Gary Sparrow.
• Gulliver's Travels (1996) .. as Clustril.
• David Copperfield (1999) ... as Uriah Heep.
• After You've Gone (2007- 2008) ... as Jimmy Venables.
• The Burt Bacharach Show
• The Dick Emery Show
• The Kenny Everett Christmas Show
• The Lenny Henry Show
• Losing Her
• Our Show
• Wilderness Challenge

Films

• Bequest to the Nation
• Bullshot (film)
• Endless Nights
• Gunbus
• Lassie

References

External links

• Nicholas Lyndhurst at the Internet Movie Database
• Nicholas Lyndhurst at the British Film Institute's Screenonline