David Jason
A master of comic timing and heartfelt characterization, he became Britain's most beloved television actor by embodying a gallery of unforgettable working-class heroes.
Born 1940 (age 86)·English actor·Birthday: February 2·The Silent Generation
Biography
David Jason's path to national treasure status was anything but overnight. He spent years honing his craft in regional theatre and bit television parts, often playing cheeky supporting characters. His breakthrough came as the slow-witted but lovable Granville in 'Open All Hours,' but it was his defining role as the eternally optimistic, scheming market trader Del Boy Trotter in 'Only Fools and Horses' that captured the nation's heart. Jason brought a profound humanity and flawless comic instinct to the part, making Del's dreams of wealth both hilarious and poignant. Later, he effortlessly shifted gears to play the rumpled, intuitive Detective Inspector Frost, proving his dramatic range. His career is a testament to the power of character acting, earning him a place as one of British television's most trusted and adored faces.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
David was born in 1940, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When David Was Born
The biggest hits of 1940
#1 Movie
Fantasia
Best Picture
Rebecca
David's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1940Born
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1945Started school
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1953Became a teenager
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1956Could drive
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1958Could vote
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1961Turned 21
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1970Turned 30
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1980Turned 40
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1990Turned 50
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
2000Turned 60
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 70
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 80
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 86 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Portrayed Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter in 'Only Fools and Horses,' one of the UK's most beloved and highest-rated sitcoms.
- Won four BAFTA Awards for his performances in 'Only Fools and Horses' and 'A Touch of Frost.'
- Played the lead role of Detective Inspector Jack Frost in 'A Touch of Frost' for 18 years.
- Voiced the title character in the long-running children's animated series 'Danger Mouse.'
- Was knighted in 2005 for services to acting and comedy.
Did You Know?
He worked as an electrician before pursuing acting full-time.
Jason is a qualified helicopter pilot.
He turned down the role of Basil Fawlty in 'Fawlty Towers' before it was offered to John Cleese.
His autobiography, 'My Life,' became one of the UK's fastest-selling memoirs.
“I've been very lucky. I've played some wonderful parts, but the one thing they all have in common is that they're all outsiders.”
