John Spurley Challis was an English actor. He had an extensive television career but is best known for portraying Terrance Aubrey “Boycie” Boyce in the long-running BBC Television sitcom Only Fools and Horses (1981–2003) and its sequel/spin-off The Green Green Grass (2005–2009), as well as Monty Staines from the seventh series onwards in the ITV sitcom Benidorm, from 2015 to 2018.
Challis was a patron of the British Hedgehog Preservation Society. He was an Arsenal supporter. Challis wrote two volumes of autobiography, Being Boycie and Boycie & Beyond. In 2016, he wrote Wigmore Abbey: The Treasure of Mortimer about the renovation of his house’s gardens.
Challis died of cancer on 19 September 2021, aged 79.
“Only Fools and Horses” actor John Challis died at the age of 79
John Challis, who starred as Boycie in the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses, died at the age of 79. He died “peacefully in his sleep, after a protracted fight with cancer,” according to his family.
Sir David Jason, Challis’ co-star, described him as “a superb performer” and “a gentleman in the genuine sense of the term.” Terrance Aubrey Boyce, the greedy second-hand car trader he played, was a comic fan favorite.
From 1981 to 2003, Challis played alongside Sir David and Nicholas Lyndhurst in the musical, which ran from 1981 to 2003.
The character – who was both a long-time former schoolmate and devious rival of Sir David’s character Del Boy – was initially due to appear in just one scene, but the part grew in prominence as the series progressed.
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In fact, he was so popular with viewers that, when Only Fools and Horses ended its long run, the BBC developed a spin-off show following the continuing adventures of Boycie and long-suffering wife Marlene. It ran for four series. Sue Holderness, who played Marlene, paid tribute to Challis as her “beloved friend”.
“Marlene without Boycie – it’s unthinkable,” she said. “John Challis was my partner on screen and stage for 36 years and my beloved friend. RIP darling John. I will miss you every day.”
Further Information
And Steven Woodcock, who played Jevon in the sitcom, said Challis was a “fantastic actor and wonderful person, amazing to work with. There is no Del Boy without Boycie. RIP my Peckham pal”.
“He will always be loved for being ‘Boycie,’ and leaves a magnificent legacy of work that will continue to offer pleasure and smiles for many years to come,” his family said in a statement.
“Be confident that there will be an occasion to commemorate John’s life in the future, and that everyone is welcome to attend.”
Challis was “a magnificent performer who will forever be remembered for playing Boycie in Only Fools and Horses – a figure so well-loved by millions,” according to Charlotte Moore, the BBC’s chief programming officer.
Actress Crissy Rock, who appeared alongside Challis in the show, said she was heartbroken.
She tweeted: “John you were a true gentleman and always so loving and supportive towards me. I am thinking of your family and close friends at this hard time. Rest well. Crissy xx”
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Earlier this month, Challis canceled a speaking tour due to ill health.
He was due to appear on 30 scheduled dates, billed as an “intimate evening with John Challis”, but had to cancel the tour after one date.
John Challis Age, Date of Birth, Birthday, Family, what about his father, mother, where is he from? Early Life
John Challis was born on 16 August 1942 in Bristol. He was currently 79 years old. When Challis was one year old, the family shifted to southeast London. John was the only kid of his parent.
His father, James Alec was a Civil Servant from Sheffield. He attended the state boarding Ottershaw School near Woking, Surrey. After leaving school he worked as a trainee estate agent prior to becoming a professional actor.
There is no information about his family background but we will update soon.
John Challis Net worth, How much did he earn?
John Challis accumulated a net worth of $18 million throughout his lifetime. Most of his earnings come from his profession as an actor.
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He appeared on different television series, including Dixon of Dock Green, Thriller, The Sweeney, Doctor Who, Dracula, Beau Geste, Juliet Bravo, Coronation Street, Bloomers, Citizen Smith, Ever Decreasing Circles, Doctor Snuggles, Chance in a Million, The Bill, and so on. He also wrote his autobiography and went on a book tour to promote back in April 2012.
John Challis Wife, His Relationship, What about Children?
Challis was married to his fourth wife, Carol. They wed in Brighton in 1990 and since 1998 had lived in Abbot’s Lodgings at Wigmore Abbey Grange, Adforton, Herefordshire. Challis had no children. His first wife, Jean Robertson, a member of a dynastic theatre family, was a BBC producer; they were married from 1965 to 1966. His second and third wives were actresses, Debbie Arnold and Sabina Franklyn.
The actor lived with his wife in Abbot’s Lodgings at Wigmore Abbey Grange, Adforton, Herefordshire, since 1988. He had had cancer for a long time. According to his family, John passed away peacefully in his sleep.
John Challis Career
Television and radio
An early television role was in the gangster drama Big Breadwinner Hog in 1969, and between 1971 and 1975 he made regular appearances in Z-Cars as Sergeant Culshaw.
The Richard Beckinsale sitcom Bloomers (1979) was written about Challis’s experience working at a garden center while taking a break from acting.
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Challis was best known for playing Terrance Aubrey “Boycie” Boyce in Only Fools and Horses (1981—2003). The series’ writer, John Sullivan, also created a spin-off for Challis, The Green Green Grass (2005—2009). The outdoor scenes of The Green Green Grass were filmed at his then home, surrounding fields, and local villages.
Challis in November 2013, with the crew from HMS Talent
His other television appearances include Dixon of Dock Green, Thriller, The Sweeney, Doctor Who (The Seeds of Doom), Dracula, Beau Geste, Juliet Bravo, Coronation Street, Bloomers, Citizen Smith, Ever Decreasing Circles, Doctor Snuggles, Chance in a Million, The Bill, One Foot in the Grave, Open All Hours, The New Statesman, Don’t Wait Up, Soldier Soldier, Brass Eye, My Family, In Sickness and in Health, Benidorm and Heartbeat.
In the 2008 series of Last of the Summer Wine, he guest-starred as a fake jewel thief trying to impress the ladies. During Challis’ appearance in the Channel 4 mockumentary television program Brass Eye, he was tricked into believing Clive Anderson had been shot by Noel Edmonds.
On BBC radio, he played an interrogator in the play Rules of Asylum by James Follett, broadcast by BBC Radio 4 in 1973. He also played Dibden Purlew in Getting Nowhere Fast from 2001 to 2004. In 2006 he took a cameo role in BBC’s The Impressionists as Station Master Garre Saint Lézasr.
In 2012, he became the narrator of the National Geographic Channel series Strippers: Cars for Cash.
He became an honorary citizen of Serbia, where Only Fools and Horses remains hugely popular. Challis made the documentary Boycie in Belgrade, exploring why the show was so beloved in the Balkan country.
Theatre
Challis had a number of stage roles, including with the Royal Shakespeare Company in the 1960s and the National Theatre. In 1995 he performed in open-air performances of Richard III and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, staged in Regents Park in London.
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He starred in pantomime at the Plaza Theatre in Stockport as Captain Hook in Peter Pan, a role he reprised in 2018 at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham. He also appeared in pantomime at Weston Playhouse in winter 2011–12 playing Ebenezer in Aladdin and as King Rat in Dick Whittington at the Plaza Theatre in Stockport over Christmas 2013 and New Year 2014. In 2013 Challis occasionally contributed to the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Live Tour as the narrator.
In 2014, Challis began a theatre tour of his one-man show titled Only Fools and Boycie, which charted his life before, during and after his time as Boycie.
Where he attended his High school and University? What was his major?
Challis attended the state boarding Ottershaw School near Woking, Surrey. After leaving school, he worked as a trainee estate agent.
John Challis Social Media Reach
He was active on Twitter with the username “@John Challis” with 129.5k followers.
John Challis FAQ’s
John Challis, 16 August 1942 – 19 September 2021, was an English actor. He had an extensive television career but is best known for portraying Terrance Aubrey “Boycie” Boyce in the long-running BBC Television sitcom Only Fools and Horses (1981–2003) and its sequel/spin-off The Green Green Grass (2005–2009), as well as Monty Staines from the seventh series onwards in the ITV sitcom Benidorm, from 2015 to 2018.
John Challis was born on 16 August 1942 in Bristol. He was currently 79 years old.
He was best known for his portrayal of the second-hand car dealer in the well-loved sitcom with Sir David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst.
John Challis, best known for playing Boycie in BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses, has died at the age of 79. His family said he died “peacefully in his sleep, after a long battle with cancer”.
Challis had no children. His first wife, Jean Robertson, a member of a dynastic theatre family, was a BBC producer; they were married from 1965 to 1966. His second and third wives were actresses, Debbie Arnold and Sabina Franklyn.
John Challis’s Body Appearance Height, Weight
| Height | Feet – 6 feet 1 inch Meter- 1.87m Centimeter- 187 cm |
| Weight | N/A |
| Hair | Black |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Body Type | Fit |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
Interesting facts about John Challis’s which you should know
| Nationality | English |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Zodiac Sign | Leo |
| Net Worth | $1 million – $5 million |
| Birthplace | Bristol, England |
| Age (as in 2021) | 79 years |
