Nicholas was a student at Corona Stage Academy, during which time he made appearances on several commercials and children films in the 70's. He first gained recognition in the sitcom
Butterflies when he was 17. He then went on to have a role as a teenage son in
Going Straight. He eventually experienced stardom with his role as Rodney Trotter in the sitcom
Only Fools and Horses, his most successful role. During his time acting on
Only Fools and Horses, he also did a few stage performances. A few years after
Only Fools and Horses finished, he appeared as
… More Cruella De Vil's chauffeur, Reg Farnsworth, at the Children's Party at the Palace. Most recently, in 2007, Lyndhurst acted in a sitcom for the first time in 13 years, called After You've Gone. In it he plays a divorced dad moving back into the marital home in order to look after his daughter and son with his mother in law, as his ex-wife leaves to go work as a nurse on a third world disaster relief mission.