- Born
- Died
- Birth nameJohn Spurley Challis
- Height6′ 1½″ (1.87 m)
- John Challis was an accomplished character actor, personality and raconteur whose wide-ranging career went from classical roles on the stage to heavies in television drama, a multitude of policemen, sitcom stardom, pantomime performances and even a one-man show.
He wanted to act from a young age but was encouraged to get a "proper" job, so he worked as a trainee estate agent for a short time. He also had a job delivering groceries. He got into acting through a travelling children's theatre and never attended drama school. Performances in regional repertory theatre followed. He ended up in the Royal Shakespeare Company during the 1960s and made his television debut in The Newcomers (1965). His imposing physical stature helped him gain roles as police officers in Softly Softly (1966) and Crown Court (1972). He was also cast in a recurring role in the BBC's long-running police drama Z Cars (1962) as Sergeant Culshaw. He then played heavies in The Sweeney (1975) and Doctor Who (1963) (both for director Douglas Camfield, who would also later cast him in Beau Geste (1982)).
He worked with David Jason for the first time in the sitcom Open All Hours (1976). In 1980, he landed a guest role (as another policeman) in Citizen Smith (1977). His performance impressed the writer, John Sullivan, so much that he promised he would find another part for him. This led to him being cast as Boycie, the second-hand car salesman, in the first series of Only Fools and Horses (1981). It would go on to become one of the longest-running and most popular sitcoms of all time and Challis would be a regular in it. In 2005, Challis began starring in a spin-off, The Green Green Grass (2005). In 2011, he released his autobiography, "Being Boycie", which was followed by "Boycie & Beyond" in 2012. These led to Challis entertaining audiences by touring a one-man show, "Only Fools and Boycie".
- IMDb mini biography by: Anonymous
- SpousesCarol Davies(June 2, 1995 - September 19, 2021) (his death)Sabina Franklyn(May 1987 - 1989) (divorced)Debbie Arnold(March 16, 1981 - 1982) (divorced)Jean Robertson(1964 - 1966) (divorced)
- To commemorate the completion of the notoriously troubled Only Fools and Horses (1981) episode A Royal Flush (1986), he had T-shirts made for everyone, with a picture of a thumb and forefinger clenched around a nose, which is what the crew did when they were asked how long it would take to film the episode.
- According to Sir David Jason, he was nothing like Boycie, his character from Only Fools and Horses (1981) and its spin-off series The Green Green Grass (2005). In real life, to those who knew him, he was charming, well-spoken, an actor of great weight, a gentleman to work with, and a team player.
- He lived in a 12th-century abbot's lodging attached to a ruined monastery on the Welsh borders.
- His hobbies included gardening, cricket and history.
- He worked at an estate agents in Surrey prior to becoming an actor.
- I think I prefer comedy, because there is no better feeling then to hear someone laughing- it's to do with making people happy.
- We just knew that whatever else we did, however good we were in other roles, the most famous thing we'd ever do was Only Fools and Horses (1981). It was just so big. But it was wonderful to be in something that meant so much to people.
- [on Roger Lloyd Pack] Speaking as a rather theatrical actor myself, I sort of quite envied him the ability to suggest something by doing absolutely nothing.
- Jamaica Inn (2014) looks very good but I haven't heard a single word...Either the actors are mumbling or the sound track is faulty.
- [on Doctor Who (1963)] Tom's [Tom Baker] a lot of people's favourite Doctor. He loved a laugh. We had some great times, that was one of the happiest jobs I ever did.
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