Lennard Pearce - Revision history

Kurt at 04:51, 3 February 2023

2023-02-03T04:51:31Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:51, 2 February 2023
Line 1:		Line 1:
	~~{{short description\|English actor}}~~
	~~{{Use dmy dates\|date=March 2021}}~~
	~~{{Use British English\|date=June 2012}}~~
	{{Infobox person		{{Infobox person
	\| name = Lennard Pearce		\| name = Lennard Pearce

Kurt: /* External links */

2023-01-03T04:25:00Z

External links

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:25, 2 January 2023
Line 76:		Line 76:
	==External links==		==External links==
	*{{IMDb name\|0668970}}		*{{IMDb name\|0668970}}

	~~{{Authority control}}~~

	{{DEFAULTSORT:Pearce, Lennard}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Pearce, Lennard}}

Kurt at 14:29, 27 October 2022

2022-10-27T14:29:43Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:29, 27 October 2022
Line 1:		Line 1:
	{{short description\|English actor}}		{{short description\|English actor}}

	{{Use dmy dates\|date=March 2021}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=March 2021}}

	{{Use British English\|date=June 2012}}		{{Use British English\|date=June 2012}}
	~~{{More citations needed\|date=December 2011}}~~
	~~{{for\|the electrical engineer\|Leonard Pearce}}~~
	{{Infobox person		{{Infobox person
	\| name = Lennard Pearce		\| name = Lennard Pearce
	\| image = ~~File:Lennard_Pearce~~.~~png~~		\| image = Lennard Pearce.jpg
	\| caption = Pearce as '''[[Grandad (Only Fools and Horses)\|Grandad]]''' in ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]''		\| caption = Pearce as '''[[Grandad (Only Fools and Horses)\|Grandad]]''' in ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]''
	\| birth_date = {{Birth date\|1915\|02\|09\|df=y}}<ref>Death cert</ref>		\| birth_date = {{Birth date\|1915\|02\|09\|df=y}}<ref>Death cert</ref>
	\| birth_place = [[Paddington]], London, England		\| birth_place = [[w:Paddington\|Paddington]], London, England
	\| death_date = {{Death date and age\|1984\|12\|15\|1915\|2\|9\|df=y}}		\| death_date = {{Death date and age\|1984\|12\|15\|1915\|02\|09\|df=y}}
	\| death_place = [[Archway, London\|Archway]], London, England		\| death_place = [[w:Archway, London\|Archway]], London, England
	\| alma_mater = [[Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]]		\| alma_mater = [[w:Royal Academy of Dramatic Art\|Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]]
	\| occupation = Actor		\| occupation = Actor
	\| years_active = 1930s–1984		\| years_active = 1930s–1984
Line 24:		Line 20:
	==Career==		==Career==
	===Theatre===		===Theatre===
	Born in [[Paddington]], Pearce trained as an actor at the [[Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]], in London. As a young actor in the 1930s, he went on a performance tour in Germany. One theatrical performance was attended by senior members of the [[Nazi Party]]; at the end of the show, party officials came backstage to congratulate the cast, and Pearce shook hands with [[Adolf Hitler]]. Pearce later told his ''Only Fools and Horses'' co-star [[Nicholas Lyndhurst]] that he regretted not taking the opportunity to kill Hitler.<ref>{{cite news\|title=Only Fools and Horses actor Lennard Pearce 'had the chance to kill Hitler'\|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2017/10/02/fools-horses-actor-lennard-pearce-had-chance-kill-hitler/\|accessdate=2 October 2017\|work=The Telegraph\|location=London\|date=2 October 2017\|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002141632/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2017/10/02/fools-horses-actor-lennard-pearce-had-chance-kill-hitler/\|archivedate=2 October 2017\|url-status=live}}</ref>		Born in [[w:Paddington\|Paddington]], Pearce trained as an actor at the [[w:Royal Academy of Dramatic Art\|Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]], in London. As a young actor in the 1930s, he went on a performance tour in Germany. One theatrical performance was attended by senior members of the [[w:Nazi Party\|Nazi Party]]; at the end of the show, party officials came backstage to congratulate the cast, and Pearce shook hands with [[w:Adolf Hitler\|Adolf Hitler]]. Pearce later told his ''Only Fools and Horses'' co-star [[w:Nicholas Lyndhurst\|Nicholas Lyndhurst]] that he regretted not taking the opportunity to kill Hitler.<ref>{{cite news\|title=Only Fools and Horses actor Lennard Pearce 'had the chance to kill Hitler'\|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2017/10/02/fools-horses-actor-lennard-pearce-had-chance-kill-hitler/\|accessdate=2 October 2017\|work=The Telegraph\|location=London\|date=2 October 2017\|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002141632/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2017/10/02/fools-horses-actor-lennard-pearce-had-chance-kill-hitler/\|archivedate=2 October 2017\|url-status=live}}</ref>

	During [[World War II]], Pearce performed for the [[Entertainments National Service Association]] (ENSA). In the early 1960s, he understudied for [[Stanley Holloway]] as Alfred P. Doolittle in the original West End production of ''[[My Fair ~~Lady~~]]''. After 1965, he appeared in many plays at the [[Royal National Theatre\|National Theatre]], including ''[[Much Ado About Nothing]]'' and ''[[Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead]]''. He worked with both [[Laurence Olivier]] and [[Anthony Hopkins]] on stage. In 1966, Pearce starred in [[Richard Brinsley Sheridan]]'s ''[[The Rivals]]'' alongside [[David Jason]], but the two men did not meet again until 15 years later.		During [[w:World War II\|World War II]], Pearce performed for the [[w:Entertainments National Service Association\|Entertainments National Service Association]] (ENSA). In the early 1960s, he understudied for [[Stanley Holloway]] as Alfred P. Doolittle in the original West End production of ''[[w:My Fair Lad\|y]]''. After 1965, he appeared in many plays at the [[w:Royal National Theatre\|National Theatre]], including ''[[w:Much Ado About Nothing\|Much Ado About Nothing]]'' and ''[[w:Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead\|Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead]]''. He worked with both [[w:Laurence Olivier\|Laurence Olivier]] and [[w:Anthony Hopkins\|Anthony Hopkins]] on stage. In 1966, Pearce starred in [[w:Richard Brinsley Sheridan\|Richard Brinsley Sheridan]]'s ''[[w:The Rivals\|The Rivals]]'' alongside [[David Jason]], but the two men did not meet again until 15 years later.

	In 1975, Pearce played Owl in a theatre adaptation of ''[[Winnie the Pooh]]'' at the [[Phoenix Theatre (London)\|Phoenix Theatre]] in London and, two years later, Mr Witherspoon in ''[[Arsenic and Old Lace (play)\|Arsenic and Old Lace]]'' at the [[Westminster Theatre]]. He was also a member of the [[Royal Shakespeare Company]].		In 1975, Pearce played Owl in a theatre adaptation of ''[[w:Winnie the Pooh\|Winnie the Pooh]]'' at the [[w:Phoenix Theatre (London)\|Phoenix Theatre]] in London and, two years later, Mr Witherspoon in ''[[w:Arsenic and Old Lace (play)\|Arsenic and Old Lace]]'' at the [[w:Westminster Theatre\|Westminster Theatre]]. He was also a member of the [[w:Royal Shakespeare Company\|Royal Shakespeare Company]].

	===Television===		===Television===
	Pearce starred as [[Grandad (Only Fools and Horses)\|Grandad]] in the first three series of the [[BBC]] sitcom ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]'' between 1981 and 1983,<ref name="imdb">{{cite web \|title=IMDb > Grandad (Character) \|url=https://www.imdb.com/character/ch0026067/ \|publisher=[[IMDb]] \|accessdate=27 January 2010}}</ref> the role with which he is most closely associated. His other work includes ''[[Dixon of Dock Green]]'' (1965), ''[[Dr. Finlay's Casebook (TV and radio)\|Dr. Finlay's Casebook]]'' (1967), ''[[Sykes (TV series)\|Sykes]]'' (1972) and ''[[Coronation Street]]'' in May 1969 and April 1977, along with ''[[The Wednesday Play]]'' ("[[Cathy Come Home]]", 1966). Pearce played a role in ''[[Crown Court (TV series)\|Crown Court]]'' broadcast in February 1984.		Pearce starred as [[Grandad (Only Fools and Horses)\|Grandad]] in the first three series of the [[w:BBC\|BBC]] sitcom ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]'' between 1981 and 1983,<ref name="imdb">{{cite web \|title=IMDb > Grandad (Character) \|url=https://www.imdb.com/character/ch0026067/ \|publisher=[[IMDb]] \|accessdate=27 January 2010}}</ref> the role with which he is most closely associated. His other work includes ''[[Dixon of Dock Green]]'' (1965), ''[[Dr. Finlay's Casebook (TV and radio)\|Dr. Finlay's Casebook]]'' (1967), ''[[Sykes (TV series)\|Sykes]]'' (1972) and ''[[Coronation Street]]'' in May 1969 and April 1977, along with ''[[The Wednesday Play]]'' ("[[Cathy Come Home]]", 1966). Pearce played a role in ''[[Crown Court (TV series)\|Crown Court]]'' broadcast in February 1984.

	Pearce also appeared in an episode of ''[[Minder (TV series)\|Minder]]'' named "The Balance of Power", which was shown on Halloween in 1984, along with playing Mr Coles in three episodes of ''[[Shroud for a Nightingale]]'' in March 1984. Coincidentally, the man who replaced Pearce as the senior member of the Trotter family, [[Buster Merryfield]], also appeared in two episodes of the same series. Pearce's last TV appearance was an appearance on ''[[Children in Need]]'', broadcast on BBC1 on 23 November 1984.		Pearce also appeared in an episode of ''[[Minder (TV series)\|Minder]]'' named "The Balance of Power", which was shown on Halloween in 1984, along with playing Mr Coles in three episodes of ''[[Shroud for a Nightingale]]'' in March 1984. Coincidentally, the man who replaced Pearce as the senior member of the Trotter family, [[Buster Merryfield]], also appeared in two episodes of the same series. Pearce's last TV appearance was an appearance on ''[[Children in Need]]'', broadcast on BBC1 on 23 November 1984.

Kurt: 1 revision imported

2022-10-24T15:40:02Z

1 revision imported

← Older revision	Revision as of 10:40, 24 October 2022
(No difference)

2A00:23C6:6603:601:8D18:71CD:B82D:45C6: /* Drama */

2022-10-12T22:08:10Z

Drama

New page

{{short description|English actor}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}

{{Use British English|date=June 2012}}
{{More citations needed|date=December 2011}}
{{for|the electrical engineer|Leonard Pearce}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Lennard Pearce
| image = File:Lennard_Pearce.png
| caption = Pearce as '''[[Grandad (Only Fools and Horses)|Grandad]]''' in ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]''
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1915|02|09|df=y}}<ref>Death cert</ref>
| birth_place = [[Paddington]], London, England
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1984|12|15|1915|2|9|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Archway, London|Archway]], London, England
| alma_mater = [[Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]]
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 1930s–1984
| television = ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]'' (1981–1984, his death)
}}

'''Lennard Pearce''' (9 February 1915 – 15 December 1984) was an English actor who worked mostly in the theatre, but also appeared in British television. He starred in the last years of his life as [[Grandad (Only Fools and Horses)|Grandad]] in the sitcom ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]'', from its beginning in September 1981 until his death in December 1984.

==Career==
===Theatre===
Born in [[Paddington]], Pearce trained as an actor at the [[Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]], in London. As a young actor in the 1930s, he went on a performance tour in Germany. One theatrical performance was attended by senior members of the [[Nazi Party]]; at the end of the show, party officials came backstage to congratulate the cast, and Pearce shook hands with [[Adolf Hitler]]. Pearce later told his ''Only Fools and Horses'' co-star [[Nicholas Lyndhurst]] that he regretted not taking the opportunity to kill Hitler.<ref>{{cite news|title=Only Fools and Horses actor Lennard Pearce 'had the chance to kill Hitler'|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2017/10/02/fools-horses-actor-lennard-pearce-had-chance-kill-hitler/|accessdate=2 October 2017|work=The Telegraph|location=London|date=2 October 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002141632/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2017/10/02/fools-horses-actor-lennard-pearce-had-chance-kill-hitler/|archivedate=2 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

During [[World War II]], Pearce performed for the [[Entertainments National Service Association]] (ENSA). In the early 1960s, he understudied for [[Stanley Holloway]] as Alfred P. Doolittle in the original West End production of ''[[My Fair Lady]]''. After 1965, he appeared in many plays at the [[Royal National Theatre|National Theatre]], including ''[[Much Ado About Nothing]]'' and ''[[Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead]]''. He worked with both [[Laurence Olivier]] and [[Anthony Hopkins]] on stage. In 1966, Pearce starred in [[Richard Brinsley Sheridan]]'s ''[[The Rivals]]'' alongside [[David Jason]], but the two men did not meet again until 15 years later.

In 1975, Pearce played Owl in a theatre adaptation of ''[[Winnie the Pooh]]'' at the [[Phoenix Theatre (London)|Phoenix Theatre]] in London and, two years later, Mr Witherspoon in ''[[Arsenic and Old Lace (play)|Arsenic and Old Lace]]'' at the [[Westminster Theatre]]. He was also a member of the [[Royal Shakespeare Company]].

===Television===
Pearce starred as [[Grandad (Only Fools and Horses)|Grandad]] in the first three series of the [[BBC]] sitcom ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]'' between 1981 and 1983,<ref name="imdb">{{cite web |title=IMDb > Grandad (Character) |url=https://www.imdb.com/character/ch0026067/ |publisher=[[IMDb]] |accessdate=27 January 2010}}</ref> the role with which he is most closely associated. His other work includes ''[[Dixon of Dock Green]]'' (1965), ''[[Dr. Finlay's Casebook (TV and radio)|Dr. Finlay's Casebook]]'' (1967), ''[[Sykes (TV series)|Sykes]]'' (1972) and ''[[Coronation Street]]'' in May 1969 and April 1977, along with ''[[The Wednesday Play]]'' ("[[Cathy Come Home]]", 1966). Pearce played a role in ''[[Crown Court (TV series)|Crown Court]]'' broadcast in February 1984.

Pearce also appeared in an episode of ''[[Minder (TV series)|Minder]]'' named "The Balance of Power", which was shown on Halloween in 1984, along with playing Mr Coles in three episodes of ''[[Shroud for a Nightingale]]'' in March 1984. Coincidentally, the man who replaced Pearce as the senior member of the Trotter family, [[Buster Merryfield]], also appeared in two episodes of the same series. Pearce's last TV appearance was an appearance on ''[[Children in Need]]'', broadcast on BBC1 on 23 November 1984.

==Health problems and death==
In 1980, Pearce was in a play at the [[Bristol Old Vic]], when he kept losing balance and repeatedly falling asleep. He was diagnosed as having critical [[hypertension]], and put on seven different tablets for it, taking these for the rest of his life. A heavy smoker for many years, Pearce was in poor health while filming ''Only Fools and Horses''. On 12 December 1984, he suffered a heart attack, and was rushed to the [[Whittington Hospital]], where his condition improved. Two days later, ''Only Fools and Horses'' scriptwriter [[John Sullivan (writer)|John Sullivan]] visited him, and assured Pearce that his place in the programme would be open for him when he recovered. However, following his discharge, Pearce suffered a second heart attack on 15 December at his flat in [[Archway, London|Archway]] and died instantly. He was 69.

Sullivan was phoned the following morning to be told the news, and he broke it to Pearce's ''Only Fools and Horses'' co-stars [[David Jason]] and [[Nicholas Lyndhurst]], who were devastated by Pearce's sudden death, as were the entire crew.

When Pearce died, production was under way of the ''Only Fools and Horses'' episode "[[Hole in One (Only Fools and Horses)|Hole in One]]". Scenes he had filmed on location prior to his death were re-shot with [[Buster Merryfield]] as the replacement character Uncle Albert, and the episode was put back in the series. The episode "[[Strained Relations]]" begins in the wake of the death of the character Pearce had played.

==Television roles==
===Comedy===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Role
|-
|1970 || ''[[Nearest and Dearest]]'' || Doctor
|-
|1981 || ''[[Bless Me, Father]]'' || Clerk of the Court
|-
|1981–1984 || ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]'' || [[Grandad (Only Fools and Horses)|Grandad Trotter (Edward "Ted" Trotter)]]
|}

===Drama===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Role
|-
| 1964 || ''[[Melissa (1964 TV series)|Melissa]]'' || Detective Sergeant Heston
|-
| 1964 || ''[[The Sullavan Brothers]]'' || Prison Officer Gunter
|-
| 1964 || ''[[Thorndyke (TV series)|Thorndyke]]'' || Shenston
|-
|1966 || ''[[Cathy Come Home]]'' || Ratepayer
|-
|1974 || ''[[Antony and Cleopatra (1974 TV drama)|Antony and Cleopatra]]'' || Cleopatra's schoolteacher
|-
|1980 || ''[[Hammer House of Horror]]'' || Vicar
|-
|1984 || ''[[Shroud for a Nightingale]]'' || Gate security guard
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name|0668970}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pearce, Lennard}}
[[Category:1915 births]]
[[Category:1984 deaths]]
[[Category:English male stage actors]]
[[Category:English male television actors]]
[[Category:20th-century English male actors]]
[[Category:British male comedy actors]]
[[Category:People from Paddington]]