Actor Patrick Murray Dies at 68 After Prolonged Lung Cancer Battle

When Patrick Murray, English actor best known for his turn in Only Fools and Horses passed away in his sleep on 29 September 2025 at the age of 68, the news reverberated through fan clubs, hospice charities and the streets of his native Greenwich. The family released a brief statement on 2 October 2025, confirming that the long‑standing battle with lung cancer had finally taken its toll.

• Born: 1956, Royal Borough of Greenwich
• Iconic role: Del Boy’s neighbour in *Only Fools and Horses*
• Health timeline: COPD diagnosed 2018, lung cancer 2021, liver surgery 2022, recurrence 2023
• Family: wife Anong, daughter Josie
• Charity work: Demelza children’s hospice fundraiser

From sitcom fame to everyday heroics

Murray’s first brush with the spotlight came in the late 1980s when he landed a recurring cameo as a cheeky market trader in the BBC classic *Only Fools and Horses*. While the role never vaulted him to leading‑man status, it earned him a steadfast fanbase that still quotes his one‑liners at pub trivia nights. After the show wrapped, Murray drifted between theatre productions and guest spots on British dramas, carving out a modest yet respectable résumé.

What many forget is that behind the laugh tracks, Murray cultivated a reputation for showing up at local community events, school plays and charity galas. His willingness to sign autographs for a few pounds of tea and biscuits made him a beloved figure in the borough’s cultural fabric.

Health struggles that unfolded in public

The first public hint of trouble surfaced in 2018. Murray had signed up for a charity bus trip to raise funds for Demelza children’s hospice, planning to travel from Leysdown‑on‑Sea to Margate and entertain roughly 70 fans along the way. Just days before departure, he revealed he was undergoing treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), forcing the event’s abrupt cancellation. "I won’t let my breathlessness stop me from helping these kids," he wrote on his social media page, a promise he kept in quieter ways.

In January 2021 the actor went public with a far more daunting diagnosis: stage‑III lung cancer. Scans also uncovered a tumour lurking in his liver, prompting a half‑liver resection in March 2022. After the operation, Murray underwent a transcatheter arterial chemoembolisation (TACE) procedure and, in May 2022, announced he’d received the “all‑clear” on his lungs. The relief was palpable; a photo of him holding a steaming mug of tea with the caption “Back on track” trended on Twitter for hours.

Hope, however, proved fleeting. By April 2023 the cancer resurfaced, now metastasising to bone and soft tissue. Murray’s subsequent statements grew more measured, focusing on gratitude for his family’s support rather than medical specifics. He continued to attend fan conventions via video link, his voice hoarse but his smile unmistakable.

Family, immigration and a cab driver’s sacrifice

Behind the scenes, Murray’s life was a study in quiet perseverance. He married Anong, a native of Thailand, in 2014. To meet the UK’s minimum‑income threshold for non‑EU spouses, Murray swapped scripts for a London cab licence in 2016. Night after night, he ferried passengers along the Thames, earning just enough to secure a work visa that eventually allowed Anong and their daughter Josie to join him in Greenwich.

The decision to step away from acting was not taken lightly. In a 2019 interview, he confessed, "I’d rather drive a cab than watch my family separate because of paperwork." That humility endeared him further to fellow actors who later organized a modest fundraiser to cover his medical bills.

Final months and community response

After the 2023 recurrence, Murray’s outings became rarer. He spent much of 2024 in and out of the Royal Greenwich Hospital, where nurses recalled his habit of humming the *Only Fools* theme tune when chart checks were due. On the morning of 29 September 2025, his wife Anong found him peacefully asleep, the monitors flatlining without fanfare.

The news broke on 2 October, sparking a flood of tributes across social media. Fans posted clips of his funniest on‑screen moments, while the Demelza children’s hospice issued a statement thanking him for “raising awareness of the challenges faced by families confronting terminal illness.” A candle‑light vigil held outside the Greenwich Civic Centre drew more than 200 mourners, many clutching photographs of Murray in his cab cap.

What the battle reveals about cancer care in the UK

Beyond the personal grief, Murray’s story shines a light on the complexities of navigating chronic illness within the NHS. His initial COPD diagnosis coincided with a period of strained respiratory‑clinic capacity, while the lung‑cancer surgery required coordination between oncology and hepatology teams across two hospitals. Experts note that his case underscores the importance of early detection for smokers and ex‑smokers, especially those in high‑risk occupations such as cab driving, where air‑quality exposure is a concern.

Dr. Lian Zhou, an oncologist at King's College Hospital, remarked, "Murray’s journey, from remission to recurrence, mirrors the unpredictable nature of adenocarcinoma. It reminds us that survivorship programs must extend beyond the ‘all‑clear’ moment, offering continuous monitoring and psychosocial support." In response, several local charities have pledged to fund escort services for patients travelling to distant treatment centres, a modest tribute to the actor’s own cab‑driving days.