The Famous Grandfather of Only Fools and Horses Star Nicholas Lyndhurst

Nicholas Lyndhurst became a household name playing Rodney Trotter, the accident-prone younger brother of Derek “Del Boy” Trotter in the much-loved sitcom Only Fools and Horses. Now 65, the actor rose to fame during the 1980s, but his family already had a place in Britain’s creative history through his grandfather, Francis Lyndhurst. Born in 1878, Francis first built a career as a scenic artist before turning to film production in Shoreham during the early 20th century. After making several films in the area, he established a glass studio near Shoreham Beach.

When the film company later ran into financial difficulties, Francis returned to painting scenery. He died in 1952 and never met Nicholas, though the Only Fools and Horses actor has often shared memories and stories about his family connection to the pioneering filmmaker.

Speaking to The Guardian, Nicholas recalled how his grandfather and grandmother, Dorothy, raised their family, which included Nicholas’s father, Joe Lyndhurst. He said Francis bought a farm so that his four sons would not be forced to serve in the Second World War.

By the late 1940s, the family had seen the growing popularity of holiday camps and converted part of the land into a resort with chalets. Nicholas explained that his mother, a dancer, took a summer job at his father’s camp, where she met Joe. The actor was born in Emsworth, Hampshire, a coastal village where he continues to live nearby.

Nicholas has joked that he inherited his mother’s sense of humour rather than her dancing ability. He remains based within roughly 10 miles of his birthplace.

Francis Lyndhurst was also the great-grandfather of Archie Lyndhurst, who died tragically in 2020 aged just 19. Following in his father’s footsteps, Archie had already begun making a name for himself on television. He was best known for playing Oliver “Ollie” Coulton in 77 episodes of the BBC comedy series So Awkward.

After Archie’s death, his mother, Lucy Lyndhurst, said he had passed away in his sleep. A second post-mortem examination linked his death to Acute Lymphoblastic Lymphoma. Macmillan Cancer Support describes the illness as a rare and rapidly progressing form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that most commonly affects people under 35.

In an emotional Instagram tribute shared in 2021, Lucy described Archie’s death as a devastating moment that permanently changed the family’s life. She said he would always be “their everything” and acknowledged the lasting impact of the loss on everyone who knew him.

Lucy remembered her son as an extraordinary and deeply kind person whose generosity touched countless lives. She said Archie seemed wise beyond his years and that, despite the short time he had, his parents could not have been prouder of his achievements or the person he became.

She also revealed that Archie had suffered several brain haemorrhages, but doctors reassured the family that he would not have experienced pain because he was asleep. The diagnosis was especially shocking because the condition is extremely rare, with around 800 deaths reported each year. Just days earlier, Archie had celebrated his birthday early with his partner, Nethra, before she left for work. Lucy concluded that his death was a heartbreaking reminder of how fragile and unpredictable life can be.