Leonard "Lennard" Pearce (31 October 1915 – 15 December 1984) was an English actor who worked in theatre and television. He played Grandad in the BBC television sitcom Only Fools and Horses from its first episode in 1981 until his death in December 1984.

Early life Born in Paddington as the youngest of five children, Pearce's father Sidney was killed in action during World War I, when Leonard was six months old. He trained as an actor at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.

Career

Theatre As a young actor in the 1930s, Pearce joined a performance tour in Germany. According to Nicholas Lyndhurst, 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. Lyndhurst claimed that Pearce said that he regretted not taking the opportunity to kill Hitler.

During World War II, Pearce performed for the Entertainments National Service Association. 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 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 Pearce and Jason 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 in London, and two years later, Mr. Witherspoon in Arsenic and Old Lace at the Westminster Theatre. He was also a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Television Pearce's television work includes Dixon of Dock Green (1965), Dr. Finlay's Casebook (1967), Sykes (1972) and Coronation Street in May 1969 and April 1977, along with The Wednesday Play ("Cathy Come Home", 1966). Pearce also appeared in an episode of Crown Court broadcast in February 1984.

In 1981, Pearce began his role as Grandad in the first three series of the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses. He appeared in a 1984 episode of Minder named "The Balance of Power" and played Mr. Coles in three episodes of Shroud for a Nightingale in March 1984. Pearce's last television appearance was on Children in Need, broadcast on BBC1 on 23 November 1984.

Health problems and death In 1980, while Pearce was a cast member of a play running at the Bristol Old Vic, he began to lose his balance and would frequently fall asleep. He was diagnosed with critical hypertension and was prescribed medication.

Pearce began filming the episode "Hole in One" for the fourth series of Only Fools in Horses in early December 1984, participating in two location sequences for a storyline where Grandad attempts to commit insurance fraud by falling into a pub cellar. During the following week, Pearce suffered a heart attack and was admitted to Whittington Hospital, where scriptwriter John Sullivan visited him. He died from a second heart attack on 15 December.

Filming for Only Fools and Horses, which Pearce had been due to participate in, was planned to resume the following morning. Producer Ray Butt was informed of Pearce's death by his agent and broke the news to the cast and crew on location, including costars David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst.

Following Pearce's death, the beginning of the fourth series was restructured and Sullivan wrote two new scripts at short notice. This included "Strained Relations", which, unusually for a comedy series at the time, featured an on-screen funeral for Grandad. Buster Merryfield was hired as the replacement character Uncle Albert.

Filmography

Film Year Title RoleNotes1961The Wind of ChangeMarket trader Uncredited1976Face of DarknessEdward Langdon

Television Year Title RoleNotes1957–1958Our Miss PembertonEdward Simpson6 episodes1959The Case Before YouVictor HardwickEpisode: #1.11964Melissa Detective Sergeant HestonEpisode: "Part 4"1964No Hiding Place1st Ambulance manEpisode: "Aftertaste"1958–1964Armchair TheatreAlbert Waite Bill Brough2 episodes1964Thorndyke ShenstonEpisode: "The Puzzle Lock"1965The Sullavan BrothersPrison officer GunterEpisode: "Put Them Away for Keeps"1965UndermindGregsonEpisode: "Test for the Future"1965BlackmailGeorge Dickson - Night WatchmanEpisode: "Kill Me"1965Dixon of Dock GreenMr. KempEpisode: "Act of Violence"1966The NewcomersMan in CourtroomEpisode: #1.751966Emergency-Ward 10Dr. Hammond, MOHEpisode: #1.9361966The Wednesday PlayRatepayerEpisode: "Cathy Come Home"1969Market in Honey LaneJasper TewkesEpisode: #3.521969The First LadyGiersonEpisode: "To Hell with Purity"1969Coronation StreetMr. BracegirdleEpisode: #1.8761967–1969Dr. Finlay's CasebookConsultant John Dow Pearson3 episodes1970A Family at WarCowkingEpisode: "Hope Against Hope"1970Nearest and DearestDoctorEpisode: "Make Yourself at Home"1971Take Three GirlsFultonEpisode: "Coda and Resolution"1971Advent of SteamTrundellEpisode: "The Iron Horse: Part 1"1971Under and OverSecretaryEpisode: "The Chaotic Ceilidh"1972Softly, Softly: Task ForcePearsonEpisode: "The Amateur"1972SykesClub MemberEpisode: "Uncle"1974Marked PersonalMr. Potts2 episodes1974Antony and CleopatraCleopatra's SchoolteacherTV movie 1975Zigger ZaggerHeadmastrEpisode: #1.11976Victorian ScandalsDetective Sergeant SimmondsEpisode: "The Fruits of Philosophy"1976Within These WallsMr. KearnyEpisode: "The Mystery"1977Seven Faces of WomanCustomer in pubEpisode: "She: The Barfly"1980Hammer House of HorrorRectorEpisode: "Witching Time"1980Play for TodayPatientEpisode: "Name for the Day"1981Second ChanceRegistrarEpisode: "April II"1981Bless Me, FatherClerk of the CourtEpisode: "Porgy and Bess"1981DiamondsPriestEpisode: "My End is my Beginning" 1982Only Fools and Horses: Christmas TreesGrandad Trotter (Edward "Ted" Trotter)TV Short1982The Funny Side of ChristmasGrandad Trotter (Edward "Ted" Trotter)TV movie 1981–1983Only Fools and Horses Grandad Trotter (Edward "Ted" Trotter)22 episodes1984Miracles Take LongerElderly manEpisode: #2.31984Crown CourtRonald WardleEpisode: "Mother Figures: Part 1"1984Shroud for a Nightingale Mr. Coles3 episodes1984MinderGeorgeEpisode: "The Balance of Power"1984Only Fools and Horses: Licensed to Drill Grandad Trotter (Edward "Ted" Trotter)Video

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