Born David John White in Edmonton, Middlesex on February 2, 1940, Sir David Jason is estimated to be worth £6.9 million.
His TV career began with BBC’s comedy Hugh and I (1962-1967) followed by Crossroads (1964) after which he played Captain Fantastic in ITV’s Do Not Adjust Your Set (1967-1969).
Find out what Jason took on to make him a successful millionaire in the acting industry.
Ronnie Barker then cast him in Hark at Barker (1969) with a follow-up, His Lordship Entertains.
He then starred in BBC’s Open All Hours (1973), Barker’s sketch comedy Two Ronnies (1971-1987), Porridge (1974-1977) and as the clumsy spy in The Top Secret Life of Edgar Briggs (1974).
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Star of Lucky Feller (1976) The Jason Explanation (1977-1981) and A Sharp Intake of Breath (1978-1981), Jason also performed in the pantomime Cinderella (1979).
Jason voice-acted for Danger Mouse (1981-1992), Count Duckula (1988-1993), The BFG (1989), Victor and Hugo (1991-1992), The Wind in the Willows (1983-1990),The Adventures of Dawdle the Donkey (1996) and Father Christmas and the Missing Reindeer (1998).
Jason’s biggest break came in the 1981 BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses. He won two BAFTAs in 1990 and 1996, three National Television Awards in 1996, 1997 and 2001, and a British Comedy Award in 1997.
More accolades followed with Porterhouse Blue (1988 Best Actor BAFTA), A Bit of a Do (1990 British Comedy Award) and The Darling Buds of May (1992 British Comedy Award).
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He played the lead role in A Touch of Frost (1992), acting alongside his brother and won three National Television Awards for his performance — 2001, 2002 and 2011.
Jason was awarded the OBE in 1993 and in 1996 he earned the National Television Award’s Special Recognition Award.
He received a knighthood in 2005.
He lives with wife Gill Hinchcliffe and their daughter in their Buckinghamshire countryside house. He also owns a flat in London
A qualified helicopter pilot and a diver, Jason once owned a second-hand Ford Zephyr-six saloon as his first car.
