Roy Heather (20 May 1935 – 3 September 2014) was an English television actor best remembered for playing cafe owner Sid in the sitcom Only Fools and Horses.

Roy Heather
Heather in 2011
Born(1935-05-20)20 May 1935
Died3 September 2014(2014-09-03) (aged 79)
OccupationActor
Years active1981–2010
Spouses
  • Doreen (divorced)
Sarah Vernon
(m. 1982⁠–⁠1987)
Sara Taylor
(m. 1993)
Children3

Heather was born in Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire.[1] After leaving school, he worked for an asbestos firm before National Service with the Royal Air Force. He then did several jobs, including working as a Betterware household goods salesman, while continuing his interest in amateur acting.[2] He was spotted by David Tudor, who gave him his first professional job in repertory theatre at the age of 44. While working for Tudor, he played many leading roles including Frank in Winter Journey and Reg in The Norman Conquests, and co-starred in the world premiere of Aurelia, with Ingrid Pitt. He debuted the role of Pistol in Peter Mottley's stage monologue, After Agincourt.[1][2]

Heather appeared in various British television shows, usually in small roles, including Edge of Darkness, Poirot, The Legacy of Reginald Perrin, Birds of a Feather, Hi-de-Hi!, Bottom, The Green Green Grass, The Bill and an episode of series 10 of BBC sitcom My Family. He appeared as a nameless old man in the Al Murray/Richard Herring programme Time Gentlemen Please. He also attended fan conventions for Only Fools and Horses.[2]

Death

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Heather died in Purbrook, Hampshire from undisclosed causes on 3 September 2014. He was 79 years old.[3]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1982 Experience Preferred... But Not Essential Wally
1986 Car Trouble Ambulanceman 1

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1981 It Ain't Half Hot Mum The Corporal Episode: "Aquastars"
1981 Scene Tom Episode: "Patty Fatty"
1982 Seconds Out Chauffeur Episode: "Round 12"
1982–1983 Hi-de-Hi! Inspector Palmer

Second Man

2 episodes
1982 Only Fools and Horses Sid 13 episodes
1982 The Funny Side of Christmas: Christmas Trees Sid TV short
1983 The Crystal Cube Gareths Father, Mr. 0001 Television film
1983 The Nation's Health Unknown Episode: "Collapse"
1983 Reilly: Ace of Spies Karl Episode: "The Trust"
1983 Johnny Jarvis Car Showroom Manager Episode: "Part Two: 1978-1979"
1983 A Fine Romance Taxi Driver Episode: "The Dinner Party"
1984 Mitch Houseman Episode: "Business as Usual"
1984 Just Good Friends Tom Episode: "Guilt"
1984 Big Deal Harry Episode: "A Ragged Run"
1984 The Clairvoyant Man Episode: "Pilot"
1985 Me and My Girl Taxi Driver Episode: "On Approval"
1985 Edge of Darkness Lowe Episode: "Burden of Proof"
1985 Terry and June Deliveryman Episode: "Pantomania"
1986 Comrade Dad Commissar Episode: "Dangerous Connections"
1986 Return to Treasure Island Simpson Episode: "Mutiny"
1986 Breaking Up Wiggins Episode: #1.1
1987 Indelible Evidence Doug Scott Episode: "Gaslight"
1987 The Little and Large Show Unknown Episode: #7.3
1987 Bread Boat-owner Episode: #3.11
1988 Colin's Sandwich Workman Episode: "Pussyfoot"
1988 Christabel Member of England committee Episode: #1.2
1990 Poirot Transport Superintendent Episode: "The Kidnapped Prime Minister"
1991 Sleepers Janitor Episode: "On the Run"
1992 As Time Goes By Taxi Driver Episode: "Getting to Know You – Again"
1992 Screen One Arnie Shaw Episode: "Seconds Out"
1992 Bottom Mr Man Episode: "Parade"
1993 Birds of a Feather G. Hamilton Episode: "It Happened in Hollywood"
1994 Grange Hill Park Keeper Episode: #17.14
1994 The 10%ers Man in Club Episode: "A Small Package"
1994 Frank Stubbs Promotes Caretaker Episode: "Faith"
1989–1995 London's Burning Bus Driver

Caretaker

2 episodes
1996 Jack and Jeremy's Real Lives Unknown Episode: "Hospital Entrepreneurs"
1996 The Legacy of Reginald Perrin Biscuit Man Episode: #1.3
1997 Cadfael Wat the Inn Keeper Episode: "St. Peter's Fair"
1999 Real Women II Karen's father
2001 Love or Money Mr. Wright Television film
2000–2002 Time Gentleman Please Pops 33 episodes
1985–2003 The Bill Various 7 episodes
1982–2003 Only Fools and Horses Sid 13 episodes
2005 Doctors Reg Wincott Episode: "The Last Laugh"
2005 The Green Green Grass Sid Episode: "One Flew Over the Cuckoo Clock"
2009 Casualty Drunken Man Episode: "No Fjords in Finland: Part 1"
2006–2010 My Family Man in Bar

Man in Ward

2 episodes

References

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  1. ^ a b Hayward, Anthony (27 October 2014). "Roy Heather: Actor best known as Sid Robertson, owner of the Fatty Thumb cafe in Only Fools and Horses..." independent.co.uk.
  2. ^ a b c Webber, Richard (2002). The Complete A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. Orion. ISBN 978-0752847313.
  3. ^ "RIP Roy Heather [1935-2014] aka Sid the cafe owner in #OFAH". Rogues & Vagabonds. 5 September 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
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