Remembering Peter Heppelthwaite
British actor Peter Heppelthwaite, known for EastEnders and Only Fools spin-off, dies at 59
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Key Points
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He played the character Linal in BBC soap EastEnders during the 1990s, a detail not specified in the summary.
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His Only Fools and Horses spin-off The Green Green Grass ran from 2005 to 2009, and his portrayal of Jed appeared across 30 episodes—additional production details beyond the summary.
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One report also credits him with an appearance in the TV series Coupling, broadening the range of work mentioned.
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Apollo Artist Management said he was "unafraid of doing absolutely everything to the fullest"—a more direct characterization from the agency’s comments than the summary’s paraphrase.
British actor Peter Heppelthwaite has died at the age of 59. The London-born performer was best known for playing Jed in The Green Green Grass, the Only Fools and Horses spin-off that ran from 2005 to 2009, and for a recurring role in EastEnders during the 1990s. No cause of death has been released, according to Daily Star.
His family confirmed the news on social media. His daughter, Georgia Hewer-Heppelthwaite, said he passed away peacefully while holding their hands. She described him as "the strongest person I knew" and a man who "never gave up," Lancs Live reported.
From EastEnders to 30 Episodes of Green Green Grass
Heppelthwaite built his television profile in the 1990s, playing a character named Linal in EastEnders, according to Birmingham Mail. The BBC soap was at one of its peak viewership periods, and character actors like Heppelthwaite were central to its community-driven storytelling.
His most sustained TV role came in The Green Green Grass, created by John Sullivan as a vehicle for the beloved Boycie and Marlene characters. Heppelthwaite appeared in all 30 episodes across the show's four-season run, playing Jed — a dim farmhand who formed a comic foil to Boycie's city-slicker sensibilities. He also had a guest appearance in the sitcom Coupling, Lancs Live noted.
Agent Remembers an Actor "Unafraid of Doing Everything to the Fullest"
His representatives at Apollo Artist Management released a tribute that went beyond a standard statement. They called him "an actor, director, teacher and mentor" and said he was "unafraid of doing absolutely everything to the fullest," according to Lancs Live.
The agency stressed that his influence stretched far beyond his screen credits. They highlighted his warmth, generosity, and commitment to supporting other performers — especially younger actors just starting out. His career spanned roughly 35 years across television, film, and theatre.
Daughter's Tribute Paints Picture of a Fighting Spirit
Georgia Hewer-Heppelthwaite's social media tribute offered the most personal account of his final days. She said he died peacefully, surrounded by family, with loved ones holding his hands. Her words pointed toward a period of illness before his death, though no specific details have been confirmed, Head Topics reported.
She remembered her father as someone who fought hard until the very end. That image — of resilience and full commitment — echoed the tributes from his professional colleagues, who remembered him for bringing humor, heart, and total dedication to every project he took on.
His Death Deepens the Sense of a Fading Era in British Comedy
Heppelthwaite's passing comes just a few years after John Challis, who played Boycie in both Only Fools and Horses and The Green Green Grass, died in 2021. Together, their deaths add to a growing sense that the era of classic BBC sitcom character acting is drawing to a close, Birmingham Mail noted.
Heppelthwaite belonged to a generation of character actors who could move easily between drama and comedy — from the gritty streets of Albert Square to the rural laughs of Shropshire. That kind of versatility, built over decades of stage and screen work, shaped a career his agent says left a lasting mark on everyone he worked with.
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