--- name: "David Jason" canonical: "https://film.one/person/david-jason" fi1m_id: "david-jason" imdb_id: "nm0419248" tmdb_id: 70902 wikidata_id: "Q964329" roles: ["Actor"] born: "2 February 1940" reviewed_on_fi1m: 3 average_fi1m_score: 83 average_as: "actor" average_over: 3 updated: "2026-10-07T12:10:29.704638+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # David Jason ## Identity David Jason - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/david-jason - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** david-jason - **IMDb ID:** nm0419248 - **TMDB ID:** 70902 - **Wikidata ID:** Q964329 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Jason, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q964329, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0419248/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/70902 Actor. Born 2 February 1940 in Edmonton, London, England, UK. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 2 February 1940, Edmonton, London, England, UK - **Active:** 1974–2018 - **Also known as:** Sir David Jason - **Frequently works with:** [Malcolm Bradbury](https://film.one/person/malcolm-bradbury.md), [Robert Knights](https://film.one/person/robert-knights.md), [Ronnie Barker](https://film.one/person/ronnie-barker.md), [Sydney Lotterby](https://film.one/person/sydney-lotterby.md) - **Average Fi1m score:** 83, as actor, over 3 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 89 (1), 1980s 84 (1), 1990s 76 (1) - **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 0 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 2 of 3 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Comedy 2, Crime 1, Drama 1, Mystery 1 - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Jason, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q964329, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0419248/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/70902 ## Streaming the US now - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Only Fools and Horses*](https://film.one/tv/only-fools-and-horses.md) (84) - **BritBox:** [*A Touch of Frost*](https://film.one/tv/a-touch-of-frost.md) (76) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on David Jason > Jason plays Del Boy in the hands: the cuff tugged, the collar squared, the glass raised to nobody. A comic actor of exact timing, he spent a decade as Ronnie Barker's foil and then made one part so well it followed him everywhere. Watch what Del Boy does when he is not talking. He tugs a cuff, squares a collar, lifts his glass to nobody in particular, and the camel coat goes on like armour before he steps out to be laughed at. David Jason plays a man who knows the schemes will not work and has decided that admitting it would be worse, and across twenty-two years of *Only Fools and Horses* he never once asked us to pity him. That is harder than it looks, and it is the whole performance. He came to acting late and sideways, an electrician who went through amateur dramatics and repertory theatre and was on television by *Do Not Adjust Your Set* (1967). Then he spent the best part of a decade beside Ronnie Barker: Blanco in *Porridge* (1974), Granville in *Open All Hours* (1976). We gave *Porridge* 89 and did not mention him, which is not a slight. Barker's shows were built so that the star had somewhere to put the jokes, and Jason's job was to be the somewhere. He learned there how a laugh is set up and who gets to finish it. *Only Fools and Horses* (1981) let him finish it. The chandelier in the second series and the bar flap in the sixth are two of the most famous falls in British television, and we knew both were coming and laughed until it hurt anyway. Some of that is John Sullivan's writing and some of it is Butt and the directors who followed him holding the shot rather than cutting away. Most of it is Jason, who understands that a gag has a shape and that the actor's job is not to hurry it. Nicholas Lyndhurst's Rodney gives him someone to be found out by, and the late-night scenes in the flat, the two of them with the jokes run dry, are where Del stops being a turn and becomes a brother. The part cost him, or he has said it did: Del Boy followed him into everything, and he has talked about the shadow. His answer was Jack Frost in *A Touch of Frost* (1992), a rumpled detective played straight, which we have not reviewed and will not judge here, except to note that it ran until 2010, which is not what happens to a man nobody will accept as anything but Del. There was voice work, *Danger Mouse* (1981) among it, and then, in *Still Open All Hours* (2013), Granville again, behind the same counter, nearly forty years on. For a man who worried about being one character, he has spent an unusual amount of his life going back to two of them, and we do not think that is a failing. He has said, "My approach has always been through the character, finding what it is that makes them tick." Once he has found it, he sees no reason to let go. ## Biography Sir David Jason, born David John White on 2 February 1940 in Edmonton, London, is an English actor. He is known for playing Blanco in the BBC sitcom *Porridge* (1974) and Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter in *Only Fools and Horses* (1981). Jason trained initially as an electrician before entering repertory theatre. Other television roles include Granville in *Open All Hours* (1976), Pop Larkin in *The Darling Buds of May* (1991), and Detective Inspector Jack Frost in *A Touch of Frost* (1992). He has voiced characters in animated series including *Danger Mouse* (1981) and *Count Duckula* (1988). He was appointed OBE in 1993 and knighted in 2005 for services to acting and comedy. Jason has received multiple BAFTA Television Awards and other honours. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (3) - *A Touch of Frost* (1992), Fi1m 76, as DI Jack Frost — [page](https://film.one/tv/a-touch-of-frost.md) - *Only Fools and Horses* (1981), Fi1m 84, as Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter — [page](https://film.one/tv/only-fools-and-horses.md) - *Porridge* (1974), Fi1m 89, as Blanco — [page](https://film.one/tv/porridge.md) ## Complete filmography (105) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Open All Hours: Inside Out* (2026), Actor - *Comedy Classics: Porridge* (2022), as Narrator - *The Lancaster Bomber at 80 with David Jason* (2021), as Narrator - *Only Fools and Football (Euro 2020 Message from Del Boy)* (2021), as Derek ' Del Boy' Trotter - *We Love Only Fools and Horses* (2020), Actor - *David Jason: Britain's Favourite TV Star* (2020), Actor - *Flying for Britain with David Jason* (2020), Actor - *Michael Palin: A Life on Screen* (2018), Actor - *British Sitcom: 60 Years of Laughing at Ourselves* (2016), as Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter (archive footage) (uncredited) - *Still Open All Hours* (2014), series, as Granville · Executive Producer - *Pip Ahoy!* (2014), series, as (voices) - *Barry Hearn: The People's Promoter* (2012), Actor - *The Royal Bodyguard* (2011), series, as Captain Guy Hubble · Executive Producer - *David Jason's Greatest Escapes* (2011), as Presenter - *Come Rain Come Shine* (2010), as Don Mitchell · Executive Producer - *The Color of Magic 2in1* (2010), as Mrakoplaš - *Muddle Earth* (2010), series, as Randalf - *Albert's Memorial* (2009), as Harry - *The Colour of Magic* (2008), series, as Rincewind · Executive Producer - *The Color of Magic - Die Reise des Zauberers Teil 1* (2008), as Rincewind - *The Color of Magic - Die Reise des Zauberers Teil 2* (2008), as Rincewind - *Hogfather* (2007), as Albert - *Hogfather* (2006), series, as Albert / Alberto Malich - *Prehistoric Park: Building the Impossible* (2006), as Narrator - *Prehistoric Park* (2006), series, as Narrator - *Prehistoric Park* (2006), as Narrator - *Ghostboat* (2006), as Jack Hardy · Executive Producer - *Diamond Geezer* (2005), series, as Des · Executive Producer - *The Best of Ronnie Barker* (2005), series, Actor - *The Final Quest* (2004), as Dave · Director - *The Second Quest* (2004), as Dave · Director - *The Quest* (2002), as Dave · Director, Creator - *Micawber* (2001), series, as Wilkins Micawber · Executive Producer - *All the King's Men* (1999), as Capt. Frank Beck - *Angelmouse* (1999), series, as Narrator - *Father Christmas and the Missing Reindeer* (1998), as (voice) - *March in Windy City* (1998), as Steven March · Executive Producer - *Only Fools and Horses: Only Fools Cutaway* (1997), as Derek ' Del Boy' Trotter - *The Adventures of Dawdle the Donkey* (1996), series, as Rola Polar Bear (voice) - *The Snow Queen* (1995), as Eric - *Albert The Fifth Musketeer* (1994), series, Actor - *The Bullion Boys* (1993), as Billy Mac - *A Touch of Frost* (1992), series, as DI Jack Frost · Executive Producer — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/a-touch-of-frost.md) - *The Christmas Collection* (1992), as Toad/Chief Weasel (voice) - *Only Fools & Horses - Miami Twice - The Movie* (1991), as Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter - *Victor & Hugo, Bunglers in Crime* (1991), series, Actor - *The Darling Buds of May* (1991), series, as Pop Larkin - *The BFG* (1990), as The BFG (voice) - *Only Fools and Horses: The Robin Flies at Dawn* (1990), as Derek ' Del Boy' Trotter - *Amongst Barbarians* (1990), as George - *More Children's Holiday Favourites* (1990), as Count Duckula/Danger Mouse/The Narrator/Toad (voice) - *Single Voices* (1990), series, as Vernon Duxley - *The Chemist* (1990), as Vernon Duxley - *Oh, Mr. Toad* (1990), series, as Toad - *The Wind in the Willows: A Tale of Two Toads* (1989), as Toad (voice) - *Screen One* (1989), series, as Billy Mac - *More Children's Summer Stories* (1989), as Count Duckula/Norm/Danger Mouse/The Narrator/Toad/Chief Weasel (voice) - *Lollipop Children's Favourites - Volume 2* (1989), as Count Duckula/Danger Mouse/The Narrator/Toad (voice) - *Lollipop Children's Favourites - Volume 1* (1989), as Count Duckula/Danger Mouse/The Narrator/Toad (voice) - *A Bit of a Do* (1989), series, as Ted Simcock - *Count Duckula* (1988), series, as Count Duckula (voice) - *Children's Favourites - Volume 1* (1988), as Toad/Danger Mouse/The Narrator (voice) - *Porterhouse Blue* (1987), series, as Skullion - *Only Fools and Horses: Royal Variety Show* (1986), as Derek ' Del Boy' Trotter - *The Wind in the Willows: Winter Tales* (1986), as Toad/Billy the Rabbit (voice) - *ScreenPlay* (1986), series, as George - *Only Fools and Horses: White Mice* (1985), as Derek ' Del Boy' Trotter - *The Wind in the Willows* (1984), series, as Toad (voice) - *Only Fools and Horses: Licensed to Drill* (1984), as Derek ' Del Boy' Trotter - *The Wind in the Willows* (1983), as Toad - *Dramarama* (1983), series, as Mr. Stabs - *The Funny Side of Christmas* (1982), as Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter, Granville - *Only Fools and Horses: Christmas Trees* (1982), as Derek ' Del Boy' Trotter - *Danger Mouse* (1981), series, as Danger Mouse / Narrator (voice) - *Only Fools and Horses* (1981), series, as Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/only-fools-and-horses.md) - *The Odd Job* (1978), as The Odd Job Man - *The Water Babies* (1978), as (voice) - *Wombling Free* (1977), as Womble Voices (voice) - *The Sky Above... The Earth Below* (1977), as Narrator - *The Sound of Laughter* (1977), series, as Peter Barnes - *A Sharp Intake of Breath* (1977), series, as Peter Barnes - *Lucky Feller* (1976), series, as Bernard 'Shorty' Mepstead - *Open All Hours* (1976), series, as Granville - *Royal Flash* (1975), as Mayor - *The Top Secret Life of Edgar Briggs* (1974), series, as Edgar Briggs - *Porridge* (1974), series, as Blanco — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/tv/porridge.md) - *Doctor at Sea* (1974), series, as Manuel Sanchez - *Seven of One* (1973), series, as Granville - *White Cargo* (1973), as Albert Toddey - *His Lordship Entertains* (1972), series, as Dithers - the gardener - *Under Milk Wood* (1972), as Nogood Boyo - *Doctor at Large* (1971), series, as Mr Bligh - *The Odd Job* (1971), as Clive - *Six Dates with Barker* (1971), series, as Clive - *Two D's And A Dog* (1970), series, as Dingle - *Using the Telephone* (1970), Actor - *Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)* (1969), series, as Abel - *Counterstrike* (1969), series, as Taffy Sadler - *Doctor in the House* (1969), series, as Mr Drobnic - *Hark at Barker* (1969), series, as Dithers, Piano Player - *Do Not Adjust Your Set* (1967), series, as Various Characters - *Softly, Softly* (1966), series, as Smith - *Crossroads* (1964), series, as Bernie Kilroy - *Hugh and I* (1962), series, as Actor - *Comedy Playhouse* (1961), series, as Quentin ## Gallery - ![David Jason](https://film.one/media/person/60128/gallery-7f1fd4957788.jpg) David Jason — Image via TMDB - ![David Jason](https://film.one/media/person/60128/gallery-431151054d16.jpg) David Jason — Image via TMDB - ![David Jason](https://film.one/media/person/60128/gallery-09dc1301eb67.jpg) David Jason — Image via TMDB --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/david-jason