BBC Vicar of Dibley stars who died – including horrific cancer battle
The Vicar of Dibley was a beloved sitcom which welcomed a star-studded cast with Dawn French in the lead role, but sadly a number of the actors have now died.
The beloved British sitcom The Vicar of Dibley has been struck by tragedy with the death of six cast members, including most recently Gary Waldhorn, who portrayed councillor David Horton, in January 2022.
Dawn French, who played the titular vicar Geraldine Granger, expressed her devastation, saying she was "heartbroken" over the loss of her colleague. Now, only Dawn and James Fleet, known for his role as the endearing Hugo Horton, remain from the original cast.
The show, which enjoyed a successful run from 1994 to 2007, has lost cherished actors such as Liz Smith, Roger Lloyd-Pack, and Emma Chambers, who died prematurely at 53.
The actress, who also starred in Notting Hill, died in 2018 of a heart attack.
Here, the Express looks back at the Vicar of Dibley cast and the losses they have suffered since the show ended.
Gary Waldhorn
Renowned for his portrayal of the pompous councillor David Horton, actor Gary Waldhorn died at the age of 78 on January 10, 2022.
His son Josh delivered the heart-wrenching announcement: "Classically trained, it was the theatre where he truly flourished and he leaves a legacy of entertainment that saw him frequent the boards of Broadway, the West End and our living rooms on the telly!
"He leaves behind his two grandsons, Cooper and Bayley and his son Josh. We will all miss him terribly."
Waldhorn had recently returned to the screen in a festive special, The Vicar Of Dibley In Lockdown, reuniting with Dawn French and James Fleet.
He also graced the screen in classics such as Brush Strokes, portraying Lionel Bainbridge from 1986 to 1991.
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Trevor Peacock
Trevor Peacock's comic portrayal of Jim Trott has gone down as a fan favourite in the BBC sitcom. With his famous catchphrase "No no no no... yes", Trevor garnered a massive fan base and inspired countless impersonations of his character.
He was diagnosed with dementia in 2009, leading to his retirement from acting due to deteriorating health.
His final onscreen appearance was in a 2015 Vicar of Dibley Comic Relief special. On March 8, 2021, Trevor's death was confirmed by his agent, stating that he had died at the age of 89 from a dementia-related illness.
Trevor's co-star Dawn French paid tribute to her friend, saying: "Night Trev. I love you."
Emma Chambers
Beloved actress Emma Chambers won the nation's heart with her portrayal of the scatterbrained Alice Tinker on The Vicar of Dibley. This became her most iconic role, earning her the British Comedy Award for Best Actress in 1998.
Another career highlight was her role in Notting Hill as Honey Thacker, the younger sister of Hugh Grant's lead character.
Tragically, Emma died at just 53 in February 2018 after suffering a heart attack. Co-star Dawn French, who played her best friend on the show, said: "Emma was a very bright spark and the most loyal and loving friend anyone could wish for. I will miss her very much."
John Bluthal
The entertainment world mourned the loss of John Bluthal, who died in November 2018 at the age of 89. The actor was beloved for his portrayal of Frank Pickle in a cherished series.
Bluthal's character became a fixture in his village, renowned for his lengthy tales. One of the most significant moments in his TV journey was the episode where Frank revealed he was gay.
Dawn French led the outpouring of remembrance, posting on Twitter: "Tons of happy laughs remembered today. Cheeky, naughty, hilarious. Bye darlin Bluey," reports the Mirror.
Liz Smith
On to Liz Smith, widely recognised as Nana from BBC's The Royle Family. Although her career began later in life with a film debut at 49 in 1971, it was her spellbinding performance in The Vicar of Dibley that secured her status as a national treasure.
Her character Letitia Cropley captured the affection of viewers instantly, yet sadly the character was written off in an Easter special in 1996.
Liz Smith herself passed away at the grand age of 95 in December 2016.
Roger Lloyd-Pack
Another star fondly remembered is Roger Lloyd-Pack, whose previous fame as Trigger in Only Fools and Horses preceded his much-loved role as farmer Owen Newitt in The Vicar of Dibley.
Despite portraying characters with lesser wits, Roger himself was known to be exceptionally bright in his personal life.
Away from the limelight, Roger was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and sadly died at home, surrounded by his wife and close family, in January 2014. He was 69 years old.
