David Jason might be back on our screens thanks to re-runs of A Touch of Frost on ITV, but the actor is known and loved for plenty of other roles in shows like Only Fools and Horses and Open All Hours. But away from his lengthy acting career, David's family went through hardship in their personal lives, and y many may not know that the actor was actually born a twin.
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Sadly, when David's mother Olwen Jones gave birth, David was the only one to survive. Explaining the sad story in the Guardian, the actor said: "I'm a twin but only I emerged live from the womb."
David Jason was born a twin
The 80-year-old also explained how he learnt to become matter of fact about the situation: "The fact that I was originally one half of a duo gave rise to a theory, much propounded in newspaper profiles, that my life has been one desperate effort to compensate for that stillborn brother. I fear the truth may be more prosaic.
"The incident, sad as it was, dated back to the day I was born. It was hard to feel it as a loss."
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The actor, who played DI Jack Frost in the ITV drama for 18 years, has an older brother, Arthur White, who is also an actor. In fact, Arthur even featured in a number of episodes of the police crime drama playing the role of PC Ernie Trigg. As it turns out, it was his older brother that inspired David to join the acting professional early in his career.
David Jason also has an older brother
The Only Fools and Horses actor said: "It was Arthur who helped secure my first big break in the theatre and life came full circle when I recommended him for a part in [A Touch of] Frost – and he went on to appear in 27 episodes. It was great having him around."
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David, who changed his last named to Jason from White due to another actor being named David White, also opened up about his older sibling's journey into acting.
"[He] was the first in the family to take up acting. Returning home from National Service, he declared that he fancied being a thespian and duly won a scholarship to Rada. I can remember the family crowding round excitedly at home to listen to his debut appearance in the long-running BBC radio drama serial Mrs Dale's Diary."
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