David Jason Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter
The stars of beloved British sitcom Only Fools And Horses have paid tribute to the show's creator John Sullivan following his tragic death on Saturday (23Apr11).
The 64-year-old writer passed away at a private hospital in Surrey, England, six weeks after he was admitted to treat a bout of viral pneumonia. He is survived by his wife, Sharron, as well as two sons and a daughter.
Sullivan's most famous show, starring David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst, ran between 1981 until 2003 and spawned two spin-off series, The Green Green Grass, and his most recent work, Rock & Chips, the third episode of which is due to debut in Britain on Thursday (28Apr11).
Stephen Fry led tributes, writing in a post on Twitter.com, "Terribly saddened to hear that John Sullivan, one of the great comedy writers of our time, has died. Deepest sympathy to all his family."
Only Fools and Horses star Sir David Jason, who played Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter, admitted he was "totally devastated to hear of dear John's death", adding in a statement, "We have lost the country's greatest comedy writer, but he leaves us a great legacy, the gift of laughter. My thoughts at this time are with his lovely family."
John Challis, who starred as Boycie in both Only Fools and Horses and spin-off series The Green Green Grass, tells British radio station BBC 5 Live, "It was a terrible shock for us... because it's the 30th anniversary of Only Fools and Horses, and John has been part of our lives all that time.
"It's been an absolute joy and privilege trying to interpret the writing which not only made you laugh but also made you cry. And he could look at everybody's experiences, even the most tragic experience in people's lives - and still make you smile at them, and make you think things aren't so bad. It's a great loss."
And Roger Lloyd-Pack, who played Trigger in the classic comedy, adds, "He was a craftsman and those lines didn't just fall out. He chiseled them and honed them. And they were very particular."
A statement form BBC Director General Mark Thompson reads, "John created some of the U.K.'s most-loved comedies, from Only Fools and Horses to his most recent work, Rock & Chips. He had a unique gift for turning everyday life and characters we all know into unforgettable comedy.
"His work will live on for years to come. We will miss him and we send our condolences to his family."
Tagged in John Sullivan Sir David Jason