David Renwick wrote a masterpiece. That sounds like hyperbole, but if you grew up in the UK during the nineties, you know it’s just a fact. One Foot in the Grave wasn't just another sitcom about a grumpy old man. It was a surrealist, often dark exploration of the indignity of aging, anchored by a cast that felt like your actual neighbors. But time moves on. It’s been decades since the finale—that divisive, heartbreaking hit-and-run—and naturally, people are curious about the one foot in the grave actors who made Victor Meldrew a household name.
I don't believe it! No, really.
The reality of looking back at a show that started in 1990 is that many of the faces we loved are gone. Others have essentially vanished into a quiet retirement. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, honestly. You have Richard Wilson, who became an icon despite being significantly younger than his character at the start, and then you have the tragic, early loss of actors like Doreen Mantle or Angus Deayton’s pivot into... well, whatever Angus Deayton is doing now.
Richard Wilson: The Man Who Isn't Victor
First off, let’s talk about the man himself. Richard Wilson. It is genuinely difficult for people to separate the actor from the catchphrase. When he first took the role of Victor Meldrew, Wilson was only 53. Think about that. Victor was written as a man forced into early retirement at 60, yet Wilson was younger than the character he was portraying. He played "old" so well that he basically spent the next thirty years having strangers shout "I don't believe it!" at him in Waitrose.
He almost didn't take the part. Les Dawson was the original choice. Can you imagine? It would have been a completely different show—broader, more vaudevillian. Wilson brought a Shakespearean gravity to Victor’s misery.
Since the show ended in 2000, Wilson hasn't exactly slowed down, though a health scare in 2016 gave fans a real fright. He suffered a cardiac arrest just before he was set to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It was serious. He spent time in intensive care. But, in true Victor-like defiance, he recovered. He’s done voice work, appeared in Merlin as Gaius—a role that introduced him to a whole new generation of fantasy fans—and has remained a stalwart of the British stage. He’s 89 now. He’s lived a much longer, and presumably much happier, life than the man in the flat cap.
Annette Crosbie: The Long-Suffering Margaret
If Victor was the engine of the show, Margaret was the soul. Annette Crosbie’s performance is one of the most underrated in sitcom history. She played the "straight woman," but her descent into quiet madness and frustration was palpable. You felt for her. You wanted her to leave him, yet you understood why she stayed.
✨ Don't miss: Why ASAP Rocky F kin Problems Still Runs the Club Over a Decade Later
Crosbie is 91. She’s largely stepped away from the spotlight in recent years, but her legacy is massive. Beyond the Meldrew household, she’s a huge campaigner for animal rights, specifically regarding the welfare of greyhounds. It’s funny how actors often have these deep, passionate "second lives" that have nothing to do with the roles we know them for. She appeared in Into the Woods (the 2014 film) and had a lovely turn in Calendar Girls. Mostly, though, she’s been living a quiet life, occasionally resurfacing for documentaries about the golden age of British comedy.
The Neighbors We Lost: Doreen Mantle and Beyond
We have to talk about the losses, because they’ve been significant lately.
Doreen Mantle, who played the wonderfully dim-witted Mrs. Warboys, passed away in August 2023 at the age of 97. She was a riot. Mrs. Warboys was the perfect foil because she was the only person who could out-annoy Victor without actually trying. Mantle was a powerhouse of British TV, appearing in everything from Coronation Street to Doctors well into her 80s. She worked almost until the end. That’s a rare kind of stamina in an industry that often forgets women once they hit 50.
Then there’s the tragic case of the neighbors.
- Angus Deayton (Patrick Trench): He’s still very much with us, but his career took that infamous detour after the 2002 tabloid scandals that saw him lose his Have I Got News For You gig. In the show, he was the perfect antagonist—the smug, increasingly paranoid neighbor. He’s popped up in Waterloo Road and Death in Paradise, but he never quite reclaimed the "Golden Boy" status he had in the 90s.
- Janine Duvitski (Pippa Trench): She’s a legend. If you don't know her from One Foot in the Grave, you definitely know her as Jacqueline from Benidorm. She’s still working, still bringing that specific brand of wide-eyed, slightly "off" energy to every role.
Why Does the Show Still Feel So Relevant?
It’s the bitterness. British comedy is at its best when it’s miserable.
Victor Meldrew wasn't just a grumpy old man; he was a victim of a world that had become increasingly bureaucratic, nonsensical, and cold. We’ve all had those "Victor moments" where the technology doesn't work, the customer service is a bot, and the world seems to be conspiring against our sanity. The one foot in the grave actors channeled that universal frustration.
🔗 Read more: Ashley My 600 Pound Life Now: What Really Happened to the Show’s Most Memorable Ashleys
The show’s creator, David Renwick, had this uncanny ability to blend high farce with genuine tragedy. One minute Victor is finding a dead cat in the freezer, and the next, we’re dealing with the death of their infant son—a subplot that gave the show a hidden, aching depth. That kind of tonal shifting requires elite-level acting. You can't just "be funny." You have to be real.
Fact-Checking the "Meldrew Curse"
People love a good "curse" story, don't they?
There’s been talk over the years about a curse following the cast, mostly because of how many supporting actors passed away. But let’s be logical. The show started 36 years ago. Many of the guest stars were already elderly in 1990.
- **Alice: ** The elderly friend played by Doreen Keogh passed away in 2017.
- Mr. Swainey: Nickolas Grace is still around! He’s 77 and still does theater and audio work.
- The Ronnie and Mildred saga: These were the characters we rarely saw but always heard about. The "boring" couple. Sadly, most of the actors who did the heavy lifting in guest spots have moved on.
It’s not a curse. It’s just the passage of time.
The "One Foot in the Grave" Legacy in 2026
Wait, what year is it? It’s 2026. Looking back from here, the show feels like a time capsule of a pre-internet Britain. No smartphones. No social media. Just a man, his garden, and a lot of bad luck.
If you’re looking to revisit the work of these actors, don't just stick to the main series. Look for the 1993 special "One Foot in the Algarve" or the final series which took some incredibly bold risks. The acting remains top-tier. Richard Wilson’s physical comedy—the way he uses his face to convey a man whose brain is literally melting from annoyance—is a masterclass.
💡 You might also like: Album Hopes and Fears: Why We Obsess Over Music That Doesn't Exist Yet
What You Should Do Next
If you’re a fan or a newcomer wanting to dive into this piece of British history, here’s how to actually appreciate it:
- Watch the "The Trial" (Series 4, Episode 6): It’s a one-man show. Richard Wilson sits in a room for 30 minutes. It is incredible television and proves why he was the only person who could play that role.
- Check out Annette Crosbie’s animal welfare work: If you want to see the real woman behind Margaret, her work with Galgos Del Sol or similar sighthound charities shows her true spirit.
- Ignore the "Reboot" Rumors: Every few years, someone suggests a reboot. Don't listen. The show ended exactly how it needed to (even if we hated the ending). Let the work stand as it is.
The one foot in the grave actors gave us something rare: a comedy that wasn't afraid to be ugly, sad, and frustratingly honest. They didn't just play characters; they played a specific type of British resilience. Victor might have complained, but he kept going. Until he didn't.
Final Thoughts for the Die-Hard Fans
The show’s impact is still felt in how we describe people. "He's a real Victor Meldrew" is a phrase that will likely outlive the show itself. While we lose more of the original cast as the years go by, the work doesn't age. It’s still funny. It’s still biting. And honestly? I still don't believe it.
Actionable Insight: If you're looking for a deep dive into the making of the show, seek out David Renwick's scripts. They are published in book format and reveal just how much of the "acting" was baked into the incredibly precise stage directions. It's a great resource for aspiring writers or actors.
Key Takeaways for 2026
- Richard Wilson is largely retired but remains a theater icon.
- Annette Crosbie focuses on animal advocacy.
- The show remains a benchmark for "Dark Comedies" globally.
- Most "curse" rumors are simply the reality of an aging cast from a 30-year-old show.
Check your local streaming services—many of these episodes have been remastered for modern screens, and the grit of 90s suburban Britain has never looked clearer.
To explore more about the history of British sitcoms, you can look into the archives of the British Film Institute (BFI), which holds extensive notes on the production of the series.