Despite starring in one of the most legendary British TV comedies of all time, Only fools and horses The legend happily stepped back from the spotlight after finding his calling in an incredibly rewarding profession.
You probably never thought “Mental Mickey McGuire” would turn your life around like this, did you?
It's the role actor Daniel Peacock is best known for, but in real life he's a very different character – fronting the band A Bunch of Worries and causing riots in Peckham aren't really the sort of things the 65-year-old is up to.
This character, along with Del Boy and Rodney, gave us many laughs, but unlike the crazy singer he played, Only fools and horses, The Peacock is not interested in fame or fortune.
Instead, he chose to become a caregiver, ditching the stars and finding fulfillment in helping others.
Peacock played Mental Mickey in Only Fools and Horses (BBC).
But Peacock still finds time to work on creative projects.
The actor was destined for stardom and fell in love with entertainment from a young age, attending the Central School of Speech and Drama but leaving early to pursue a career as a comedian.
He worked at Pontins Holiday Camp while waiting for his big break and fronted the band The Wild Women of Wonga in the early '80s before returning to acting.
Originally from Hammersmith, London, Peacock has a long list of impressive achievements to his name, thanks to his work on shows such as; Young, Robin of Sherwood, invoice, Doctor Who, Victims and One foot in the grave.
On top of that, he's also a fantastic writer and has come up with concepts for shows like; Teenage health fanatic, Sister Said, Cave Girl And his latest project Marley's Ghost.
But the father-of-four now works in a care home and believes his new job has “made me a better person”.
His motivation for joining the industry came from having to look after his father, Trevor, who is also an actor and best known for his roles in films starring Jim Trott. The Vicar of Dibley – When you are diagnosed with dementia.
Peacock, who has experience working in a local care home, explained that the joy she gets from helping others led her to decide to make it her full-time job.
In real life, he was very different to his memorable sitcom character (BBC)
Plus, the son noticed his father was watching too much TV and pointed him in the right direction.
Speaking to My London about her career change, Peacock said: “I try to inject fun and love into every day. It never gets tiring. I feel very lucky to be here.”
“This is the first job I've ever had in my life. I was 61 when I came here. I'm passionate about making the residents' lives as enjoyable and fulfilling as possible.”
The actor explained that he bought a caravan in Kent in search of a place where he could seek “solitude” while writing, and unwind without “pressure or stress”.
He continued, “I started watching TV shows I’d never seen in my life, not the best, but they were on TV.
“My son Charlie said to me, 'Dad, you watch too much TV,' and suggested I get a job.”
And that's exactly what he did, landing a job at a care home in East Sussex.
Mr Peacock added: “Many of the residents have lived through history during and after the war so there is a strong bond with the people here.”
“My father died from a terrible illness, but working here has made me a better person.”
