ONLY Fools and Horses star Nicholas Lyndhurst was left heartbroken after the tragic death of his teenage son Archie.
He and his wife Lucy Smith have been mourning their only child, who passed away following a brain haemorrhage aged just 19 in 2020.
Nicholas, 60, was recently forced to deny that he quit acting following the "devastating" loss, which saw him and his wife step back from the limelight.
The couple, who were often frequently pictured together on the red carpet, had not been seen at events since the passing of their beloved son.
Former ballet dancer Lucy and actor Nicholas met in 1992, after she saw him perform twice in the West End show Straight and Narrow.
The Only Fools star had spotted the brunette beauty in the crowd, who left him a bottle of champgne and a note after the first show.
Nicholas supported his wife throughout her dancing career while he continued to film in various TV shows including Goodnight Sweetheart and The Full Monty.
He often spoke out about how she was treated within the ballet company, revealign that anorexia was encouraged throughout her career.
"I wasn't having any of that," he once said of the terrible treatment. "Dancers only get to change their shoes when the audience can see the blood."
The couple were married in 1999 in a small ceremony in Chichester, West Sussex, and shortly after they welcomed their only son Archie.
The close family were often seen posing together on the red carpet at various events – dressed up in smart suits and with Lucy often in fashionable gowns.
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Nicholas and Lucy's son Archie tragically passed away in 2020 after suffering a brain haemorrhage following a "short illness".
In a statement released tonight, the Only Fools star said: “Lucy and I are utterly grief stricken and respectfully request privacy”.
It comes as Archie’s heartbroken mum Lucy, who has been married to Nicholas for 22 years, posted an emotional tribute.
Archie tragically died on 22 September. Police and ambulance were called “to a report of a concern for welfare” and he was declared dead at the scene.
Earlier this week, Nicholas denied he had stepped back from acting following the death of his son, as his representative insisted he is stil getting work offers.
Longtime friend and writer Laurence Marks said the actor – who shot to fame as Rodney Trotter in Only Fools – was unlikely to ever return to the spotlight.
He said: “Nicholas underwent tragedy. It must have broken his heart. It would break anyone’s heart.
“He has always kept himself to himself and now he’ll do that more than ever. Now he’s lost his son, he’ll never come out again. I doubt we will see him do any more acting."
He added to the Daily Star Sunday “I would like to say we will see him act again, but I don’t think we will.
"We will have to live on the visual memories of him and we have loads of them. We have got to be grateful for that.”
However, a rep for Nicholas later denied the report saying "he continues to constantly receive offers."
They added to Metro: "Of course he and his wife are devastated by the sudden loss of there young son but Mr. Lyndhurst will continue his career with any parts and scripts that attract him."
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