Sir David Jason's credits book for stage surname that gave him success
Sir David Jason thinks his acting career may have looked different if it were not for his English teacher reading him a book, whose main character gave the star his stage surname.
Sir David Jason may have had a very different career if he had used his birth name.
The 86-year-old legend - born David White - thinks he may not have had such an illustrious acting career if it were not for his English teacher reading him a book, whose main character gave the star his stage surname.
David explained in the new issue of Yours magazine: "When I got my Equity card, the name David White was already registered, as well as David Whitehead.
"I picked Jason because when I was at school, the English teacher read us Jason and the Argonauts. I fell in love with the character Jason, and that is why I chose the name, and it has been lucky for me."
The Only Fools and Horses icon also says his shyness led to his successes in acting.
David said: "I joined an amateur dramatic group. I loved all the costumes, but I was very shy at school, and I hid myself under the characters I played.
"One of the reasons I took the journey I took was because I was backward at coming forward.
"The theatre allowed me to escape from myself and be somebody else, and that was usually someone who could have authority, power, or strength."
The A Touch of Frost star does not like to look back on his work.
In January 2024, he explained to The Times: "I try not to look back too much. The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there, but I couldn’t be happier with how my career has turned out."
As well as TV, David did a handful of films in the 1970s, including Under Milk Wood, Wombling Free, and The Odd Job.
But after 50 years in the acting game, the entertainer still has one burning ambition - to star in a blockbuster movie.
David said: "One of my ambitions is to be part of a major movie, as that would complete my dream of a Hollywood experience.”
The Open All Hours alum also asked during his chat with the newspaper: “Any producers out there?”
