David Daker, the British character actor who became a household name through his portrayal of Harry Crawford in ITV's comedy-drama Boon, has died at the age of 90.
The veteran performer passed away on April 30, 2026, though his family chose to delay the public announcement until Sunday.
No cause of death has been disclosed.
Mr Daker's extensive career saw him appear in some of British television's most cherished programmes, including Only Fools and Horses, Coronation Street, Doctor Who, and Z Cars.
David Daker (second from right) on the set of Boon
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His role as the entrepreneurial but hapless businessman Harry Crawford opposite Michael Elphick's Ken Boon earned him lasting recognition, with the series drawing audiences of up to 15 million viewers during its seven-season run.
Boon ran from 1986 to 1992, with a final episode broadcast in 1995, and became one of ITV's most popular programmes of the era.
The series followed Mr Elphick's character, a former firefighter who reinvented himself as a motorcycle-riding odd-job man and occasional private investigator.
Mr Daker's Harry Crawford was his loyal companion, a businessman whose ventures into hotels, ballrooms and country clubs rarely proved successful.
Farewell, David Daker, who was a great Boon to any drama he appeared in, including Doctor Who.
— John Bensalhia (@JohnBensalhia) June 22, 2026
Who else could pull off the line "Ooooooooh... MICE!" like that? pic.twitter.com/kIddN8ZOiZ
The pair eventually joined forces to create Crawford Boon Security, and their on-screen friendship became central to the show's appeal.
Set initially around Birmingham before relocating to Nottingham, the programme also spawned a hit theme tune, Hi Ho Silver, which reached the Top 10 for Jim Diamond in 1986.
One memorable storyline saw the two former firefighters trapped in a security vault, reflecting on their past careers and contemplating life's deeper questions.
Mr Daker's television breakthrough came with more than 80 episodes of the BBC police drama Z Cars between 1967 and 1968, playing PC Owen Culshaw, though he later described the character as "a rather colourless character".
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
David Daker (right) was a well-known comedic and dramatic actor
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His 1982 appearance in Only Fools and Horses proved particularly memorable, with Mr Daker cast as Tommy Mackay, an aggressive estranged husband whose wife had begun seeing Rodney Trotter, leading to a confrontation with Del Boy.
He also featured in a 1977 episode of Porridge, tangling with Richard Beckinsale's Godber.
Coronation Street saw him take on two separate roles: Basil Griffin from 1968 to 1969, and Gordon Lewis, an unpopular relief manager at the Rovers Return, appearing three times between 1981 and 1985.
Doctor Who fans will remember him as the medieval robber baron Irongron in The Time Warrior and spacecraft commander Rigg in Nightmare of Eden.
David Daker (right) opposite Ronnie Corbett in '80s sitcom Sorry!
|GETTY
Tributes from fans have flooded in following the announcement. On X, one fan penned: "Very sad to learn of the death of David Daker. I first knew him as Spiker in Dick Turpin. He appeared in Dr Who twice, & worked in such TV as Porridge, Rising Damp, Minder, Z Cars, Moonfleet, The Woman In Black, Boon & Hallelujah! He also played Kevin's Dad in Time Bandits."
"A British television legend. RIP David Daker," another typed, while a third said: "David Daker was in so many shows, when l was l growing up. Another actor l will remember fondly. 90. A great age to reach. R.I.P. David Daker." (sic)
Born in Bilston in the Black Country on September 29, 1935, Daker was the youngest of five children to Olive and Elijah Daker, a shoe factory worker.
He trained at Oxford Playhouse Theatre School, served in the RAF, and built an impressive stage career including work with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Mr Daker is survived by his second wife Hilary, daughter Rebecca, son Tim, and sister Hazel.