James Cossins (4 December 1933 – 12 February 1997) was an English character actor. Born in

Beckenham Beckenham () is a town in Greater London, England, within the London Borough of Bromley, in Greater London. Until 1965 it was part of the historic county of Kent. It is located south-east of Charing Cross, situated north of Elmers End and ...

, Kent, he became widely recognised as the abrupt, bewildered Mr Walt in the '' Fawlty Towers'' episode " The Hotel Inspectors" and as Mr Watson, the frustrated Public Relations training course instructor, in an episode of '' Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em''.Guide Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em Episodes at Comedy guide
Retrieved 14 August 2015

Early life

He was born in

and educated at the

City of London School , established = , closed = , type = Public school Boys' independent day school , president = , head_label = Headmaster , head = Alan Bird , chair_label = Chair of Governors , chair = Ian Seaton , founder = John Carpenter , special ...

. After serving in the

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) an ...

, he trained at

Royal Academy of Dramatic Art The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA; ) is a drama school in London, England, that provides vocational conservatoire training for theatre, film, television, and radio. It is based in the Bloomsbury area of Central London, close to the Sena ...

, where he won the silver medal in 1952.

Career

He first appeared in repertory theatre and at the

Nottingham Playhouse Nottingham Playhouse is a theatre in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England. It was first established as a repertory theatre in 1948 when it operated from a former cinema in Goldsmith Street. Directors during this period included Val May and F ...

. He played a wide range of characters throughout his colourful and extensive career on television and stage, often portraying blustering, pompous, crusty and cantankerous characters. Cossins appeared in '' Charley's Aunt'' at the Apollo Theatre in 1971 with Tom Courtenay,

David Horovitch David Horovitch (born 11 August 1945) is an English actor, perhaps best known for playing the character of Inspector Slack in '' Miss Marple''. He stars in the ''Game of Thrones'' prequel series '' House of the Dragon'' as Grand Maester Mellos. ...

, Garth Forwood, Joanna McCallum, and

Celia Bannerman Celia Bannerman (born 3 June 1944) is an English actress and director. Career Bannerman was born at Abingdon, Oxfordshire, and trained at the London Drama Centre. She started her professional career with Ralph Richardson as Dolly in Bernard S ...

. He appeared in more than forty films, including '' The Anniversary'' (recreating his West End stage role), and '' The Lost Continent'' (both 1968), ''

Gandhi Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (; ; 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948), popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi, was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist Quote: "... marks Gandhi as a hybrid cosmopolitan figure who transformed ... anti- ...

'' (1982), and '' The Man with the Golden Gun'' (1974). On the small screen, he appeared as a guest in a variety of shows, including '' The Likely Lads'' and '' Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?'', '' Minder'', '' Bergerac'', '' The Sweeney'', '' Bless This House'', '' Shadows'', '' All Creatures Great and Small'', ''

Citizen Smith ''Citizen Smith'' is a British television sitcom written by John Sullivan, first broadcast from 1977 to 1980. It starred Robert Lindsay as Walter Henry "Wolfie" Smith, a young Marxist "urban guerrilla" in Tooting, south London, who is attempt ...

'', ''

Just William ''Just William'' is the first book of children's short stories about the young school boy William Brown, written by Richmal Crompton, and published in 1922. The book was the first in the series of William Brown books which was the basis for ...

'', ''

The Good Life The Good Life or Good Life may refer to: Film * ''The Good Life'' (1996 film), a Spanish film by David Trueba * ''The Good Life'' (1997 film), an American crime comedy film * ''The Good Life'' (2007 film), a Canadian-American film by Stephen ...

'', '' L for Lester'', Neville Dennis in ''

Callan Callan is a given name and surname of Irish and Scottish origin. It can derive from Ó Cathaláin, meaning ''descendant of Cathalán''. Callan can also be an Anglicized form of the Gaelic Mac Allin or Mac Callin. Notable people with the name includ ...

'' "Rules of the Game" (1972), ''

Z-Cars ''Z-Cars'' or ''Z Cars'' (pronounced "zed cars") is a British television police procedural series centred on the work of mobile uniformed police in the fictional town of Newtown, based on Kirkby, near Liverpool. Produced by the BBC, it debut ...

'', and as the regular character Bruce Westrop (in 1979) in '' Emmerdale Farm''. He also played Major Bagstock in '' Dombey and Son'' (1983), and appeared in the first series of ''

All in Good Faith ''All in Good Faith'' is a British sitcom that aired on ITV from 1985 to 1988. Starring Richard Briers, it was written by John Kane. ''All in Good Faith'' was made for the ITV network by Thames Television. Synopsis Rev Lambe is vicar of All Sai ...

'' in 1985. He played a magistrate in episodes of four different British sitcoms, '' Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?'', ''

'', ''

'' and ''Minder''. His later appearances were limited by ill health and he lived in semi-retirement in Surrey. Cossins died from heart disease at the age of 63, in 1997.

Filmography

Film

* ''

Darling Darling is a term of endearment of Old English origin. Darling or Darlin' or Darlings may also refer to: People * Darling (surname) * Darling Jimenez (born 1980), American boxer * Darling Légitimus (1907–1999), French actress Places Austral ...

'' (1965) as Basildon * ''

The Deadly Bees ''The Deadly Bees'' is a 1966 British horror film based on H.F. Heard's 1941 novel '' A Taste for Honey''.Ed. Allan Bryce, ''Amicus: The Studio That Dripped Blood'', Stray Cat Publishing, 2000 p 43-45 It was directed by Freddie Francis, an ...

'' (1966) as Coroner * ''

Privilege Privilege may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Privilege'' (film), a 1967 film directed by Peter Watkins * ''Privilege'' (Ivor Cutler album), 1983 * ''Privilege'' (Television Personalities album), 1990 * ''Privilege (Abridged)'', an alb ...

'' (1967) as Professor Tatham * '' How I Won the War'' (1967) as Drogue * '' The Anniversary'' (1968) as Henry Taggart * '' A Dandy in Aspic'' (1968) as Heston-Stevas * '' The Lost Continent'' (1968) as Nick, Chief Engineer * '' Otley'' (1968) as Geffcock * '' Scrooge'' (1970) as Party Guest * '' The Horror of Frankenstein'' (1970) as Dean * '' The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer'' (1970) as Crodder * ''

Wuthering Heights ''Wuthering Heights'' is an 1847 novel by Emily Brontë, initially published under her pen name Ellis Bell. It concerns two families of the landed gentry living on the West Yorkshire moors, the Earnshaws and the Lintons, and their turbulent r ...

'' (1970 as Mr. Linton * ''

Say Hello to Yesterday ''Say Hello to Yesterday'' is a 1971 British romantic comedy- drama film directed by Canadian Alvin Rakoff, on whose original story the film is based. Starring Jean Simmons and Leonard Whiting, it is 'a fast moving account of ten hours in the li ...

'' (1971) as Policeman * ''

Melody A melody (from Greek μελῳδία, ''melōidía'', "singing, chanting"), also tune, voice or line, is a linear succession of musical tones that the listener perceives as a single entity. In its most literal sense, a melody is a combina ...

'' (1971) as Headmaster * ''

Villain A villain (also known as a "black hat" or "bad guy"; the feminine form is villainess) is a stock character, whether based on a historical narrative or one of literary fiction. ''Random House Unabridged Dictionary'' defines such a character a ...

'' (1971) as Brown * '' Blood from the Mummy's Tomb'' (1971) as Older Male Nurse * '' Death Line'' (1972) as James Manfred, OBE * '' Fear in the Night'' (1972) as The Doctor * '' Follow Me!'' (1972) as Party Guest * ''

Young Winston ''Young Winston'' is a 1972 British biographical adventure drama war film covering the early years of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, based in particular on his 1930 book, ''My Early Life''. The first part of the film covers Churchil ...

'' (1972) as Barnsby * '' Bequest to the Nation'' (1973) as McKillop - HMS Victory * '' Hitler: The Last Ten Days'' (1973) as German Officer * '' The Man with the Golden Gun'' (1974) as Colthorpe * '' The First Great Train Robbery'' (1979) as Harranby * ''

Loophole A loophole is an ambiguity or inadequacy in a system, such as a law or security, which can be used to circumvent or otherwise avoid the purpose, implied or explicitly stated, of the system. Originally, the word meant an arrowslit An arrowsli ...

'' (1981) as 1st Interviewer * ''

Sphinx A sphinx ( , grc, σφίγξ , Boeotian: , plural sphinxes or sphinges) is a mythical creature with the head of a human, the body of a lion, and the wings of a falcon. In Greek tradition, the sphinx has the head of a woman, the haunches o ...

'' (1981) as Lord Carnarvon * ''

'' (1982) as Brigadier * ''Immaculate Conception'' (1992) as Godfrey

Television

* '' The Dangerous Game'' (1958, 1 episode) as Auctioneer * '' Saturday Playhouse'' (1959, 1 episode) as Frank Coppin * '' Theatre Night'' (1961, 1 episode) as Edgar Lucas, the bride's father * '' The Caucasian Chalk Circle'' (1962, 3 episodes) as Schauwa * ''

'' (1962-1963, 11 episodes) as Sergeant Michaelson * '' Compact'' (1963, 13 episodes) as Newcastle Pope * ''

Armchair Theatre ''Armchair Theatre'' is a British television drama anthology series of single plays that ran on the ITV network from 1956 to 1974. It was originally produced by ABC Weekend TV. Its successor Thames Television took over from mid-1968. The Canad ...

'' (1963-1973, 3 episodes) as Partridge * '' ITV Television Playhouse'' (1963, 1 episode) as Hilliard * '' The Sullavan Brothers'' (1965, 1 episode) as Maurice Ashley * '' Londoners'' (1965, 1 episode) as The interviewer * ''

No Hiding Place ''No Hiding Place'' is a British television series that was produced at Wembley Studios by Associated-Rediffusion for the ITV network between 16 September 1959 and 22 June 1967. It was the sequel to the series ''Murder Bag'' (1957–1958) ...

'' (1965, 1 episode) as 'Muddy' Waters * ''

Coronation Street ''Coronation Street'' is an English soap opera created by ITV Granada, Granada Television and shown on ITV (TV network), ITV since 9 December 1960. The programme centres around a cobbled, terraced street in Weatherfield, a fictional town based ...

'' (1965, 1 episode) as Interviewer * '' The Man in Room 17'' (1965, 1 episode) as Harry Morrison * '' Legend of Death'' (1965, 4 episodes) as Irwin * '' The Likely Lads'' (1965-1966, 2 epsidoes) as Scoutmaster/Vicar * '' Mystery and Imagination'' (1966, 1 episode) as Landlord * '' The Power Game'' (1966-1969, 2 episodes) as Henry Outram/Candleford * '' Theatre 625'' (1966, 1 episode) as Henry * '' The Fellows'' (1967, 1 episode) as Visitor * ''

Out of the Unknown ''Out of the Unknown'' is a British television science fiction anthology drama series, produced by the BBC and broadcast on BBC2 in four series between 1965 and 1971. Most episodes of the first three series were a dramatisation of a science ...

'' (1967, 1 episode) as Interviewer * '' The Contenders'' (1969, 1 episode) as Bloater * ''

Strange Report ''Strange Report'' is a British television crime drama series starring Anthony Quayle as Adam Strange. It was produced by ITC Entertainment and first broadcast in 1969 on ITV In the United States, NBC broadcast ''Strange Report'' between 8 ...

'' (1969, 1 episode) as Churchill * '' Dr. Finlay's Casebook'' (1969, 1 episode) as Robbie Cannock * '' The ITV Play'' (1969, 1 episode) as Mr. Peachham * ''

The Avengers Avenger, Avengers, The Avenger, or The Avengers may refer to: Arts and entertainment In the Marvel Comics universe * Avengers (comics), a team of superheroes ** Avengers (Marvel Cinematic Universe), a central team of protagonist superheroes o ...

'' (1969, 1 episode) as Henry * '' Paul Temple'' (1970, 1 episode) as Inspector Lescoe * ''

The Wednesday Play ''The Wednesday Play'' is an anthology series of British television plays which ran on BBC1 for six seasons from October 1964 to May 1970. The plays were usually original works written for television, although dramatic adaptations of fiction ...

'' (1970, 1 episode) as Colonel Jones-William * '' Thirty-Minute Theatre'' (1970, 1 episode) as Tim Singleton * '' Dear Mother...Love Albert'' (1970-1972, 2 episodes) as S.M.N. Beanstock/Col. Tomlinson * ''

Special Branch Special Branch is a label customarily used to identify units responsible for matters of national security and intelligence in British, Commonwealth, Irish, and other police forces. A Special Branch unit acquires and develops intelligence, us ...

'' (1970, 1 episode) as Det. Sgt. Davis * '' Menace'' (1970, 1 episode) as Controller * '' Bless This House'' (1971, 1 episode) as Tom Williams * '' The Ten Commandments'' (1971, 1 episode) as Tom * '' Bel Ami'' (1971, 4 episodes) as Forestier * '' The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes'' (1971, 1 episode) as . Dr. Jervis * ''

Play for Today ''Play for Today'' is a British television anthology drama series, produced by the BBC and transmitted on BBC1 from 1970 to 1984. During the run, more than three hundred programmes, featuring original television plays, and adaptations of stag ...

'' (1971, 3 episodes) as Jeremy * ''

'' (1972, 1 episode) as Neville Dennis * '' Pretenders'' (1972, 13 episodes) as Old Elam * '' The Incredible Robert Baldick: Never Come Nigh'' (1972, 1 episode) as Rev. Peter Elmstead * '' Man at the Top'' (1972, 1 episode) as Colonel Broadhurst * '' A Day Out'' (1972, TV film) as Shorter * ''

Crown Court The Crown Court is the court of first instance of England and Wales responsible for hearing all indictable offences, some either way offences and appeals lied to it by the magistrates' courts. It is one of three Senior Courts of England and Wale ...

'' (1973, 4 episodes) as Graham Erringburn * ''

Thriller Thriller may refer to: * Thriller (genre), a broad genre of literature, film and television ** Thriller film, a film genre under the general thriller genre Comics * ''Thriller'' (DC Comics), a comic book series published 1983–84 by DC Comics i ...

'' (1973, 1 episode) as Kellet * '' Harriet's Back in Town'' (1973, 2 episodes) as Arthur * ''

Marked Personal ''Marked Personal'' was a British daytime television drama created by Charles Dennis and starring Stephanie Beacham and Heather Chasen. The series was made by Thames Television and consisted of 90 episodes, shown twice weekly on Tuesday and Wed ...

'' (1973, 2 episodes) as J.C. Smart * '' Van der Valk'' (1973, 1 episode) as Noordhoff * '' Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em '' (1973, 1 episode) as Watson * '' Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?'' (1974, 1 episode) as Magistrate * '' Fall of Eagles'' (1974, 1 episode) as Count Josi Hoyos * ''

The Pallisers ''The Pallisers'' is a 1974 BBC television adaptation of Anthony Trollope's Palliser novels. Set in Victorian era England with a backdrop of parliamentary life, Simon Raven's dramatisation covers six of Anthony Trollope's novels and follows the ...

'' (1974, 2 episodes) as Sergeant Bunfit * ''

Justice Justice, in its broadest sense, is the principle that people receive that which they deserve, with the interpretation of what then constitutes "deserving" being impacted upon by numerous fields, with many differing viewpoints and perspective ...

'' (1974, 1 episode) as Mr. Ritson * '' The Double Dealers'' (1974, 1 episode) as Sir Julian * '' Good Girl'' (1974, 1 episode) as Manager * ''

Oh No, It's Selwyn Froggitt ''Oh No It's Selwyn Froggitt'' is a British television sitcom which ran on the ITV network from 1974 to 1978. Set in the fictional Yorkshire town of Scarsdale, the series stars Bill Maynard as Selwyn Froggitt, a council labourer, hapless handym ...

'' (1974, 1 episode) as Chairman * '' Notorious Woman'' (1974, 1 episode) as Gustave Flaubert * '' Centre Play'' (1975, 1 episode) as Burret * '' Churchill's People'' (1975, 1 episode) as William * '' Fawlty Towers'' (1975, 1 episode) as Mr. Walt * '' Shadows'' (1975, 1 episode) as Custodian * ''

'' (1976, 1 episode) as Magistrate * '' Jackanory'' (1976, 6 episodes) as Storyteller * '' Love Thy Neighbour'' (1976, 1 episode) as George Brittain * '' One-Upmanship'' (1976, 1 episode) * '' Shades of Greene'' (1976, 1 episode) as . Shop assistant * '' The Sweeney'' (1976, 1 episode) as Col. Rosier * ''

Don't Forget to Write! ''Don't Forget to Write!'' is a British television sitcom, broadcast by the BBC from 1977 to 1979. Plot The central character is Gordon Maple ( George Cole) who was formerly a successful playwright, but is now procrastinating, lacking self-conf ...

'' (1977-1979, 3 episodes) as Phillip Mounter * '' Bernie'' (1978, 2 episodes) as Various parts * '' The Devil's Crown'' (1978, 1 episode) as Hugues de Lusignan * ''

'' (1978, 1 episode) as Uncle Frederick * ''

Prince Regent A prince regent or princess regent is a prince or princess who, due to their position in the line of succession, rules a monarchy as regent in the stead of a monarch regnant, e.g., as a result of the sovereign's incapacity (minority or illnes ...

'' (1979, 1 episode) as Sir Robert Gifford * '' All Creatures Great and Small'' (1980, 1988, 2 episodes) as Aloysius Barge * ''

'' (1980, 1 episode) as Judge * ''

The Jim Davidson Show James Cameron Davidson (born 13 December 1953) is an English stand-up comedian, actor, singer and TV presenter. He hosted the television shows ''Big Break'' and ''The Generation Game''. He also developed two adult pantomime shows such as ''Bo ...

'' (1980, 1 episode) as Various parts * ''

Jukes of Piccadilly Jukes is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Andrew Jukes (theologian) (1815–1901) *Andrew Jukes (missionary) (1847–1931), Anglican missionary * Betty Jukes (1910–2006), British sculptor * Bill Jukes (c.1883–1939), English ...

'' (1980, 2 episodes) as Geoffrey Martindale * ''

Why Didn't They Ask Evans? ''Why Didn't They Ask Evans?'' is a work of detective fiction by Agatha Christie, first published in the United Kingdom by the Collins Crime Club in September 1934 and in the United States by Dodd, Mead and Company in 1935 under the title of ' ...

'' (1980, TV film) as Henry Bassington-ffrench * '' Bergerac'' (1981, 2 episodes) as Tuchel/Calhoun * '' Roger Doesn't Live Here Anymore'' (1981, 2 episodes) as Baxter * '' Shelley'' (1981, 1 episode) as Bernard Nelson * ''

Timon of Athens ''Timon of Athens'' (''The Life of Tymon of Athens'') is a play written by William Shakespeare and probably also Thomas Middleton in about 1606. It was published in the '' First Folio'' in 1623. Timon lavishes his wealth on parasitic compani ...

'' (1981, TV film) as Lucullus * '' Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years'' (1981, 1 episode) as Lord Lothian * '' The Confessions of Felix Krull'' (1982, 5 episodes) as Lord Kilmarnock * '' L for Lester'' (1982, 6 episodes) as Chief Insp. Rodgers * '' Minder'' (1982, 1 episode) as Judge * '' Dombey and Son'' (1983, 5 episodes) as Major Bagstock * ''

Goodnight and God Bless ''Goodnight and God Bless'' is a British television sitcom which first aired on ITV in 1983.Roberts p.140 It is based around the life of popular television quiz host Ronnie Kemp, whose staff and father-in-law hate him. Actors who appeared in epi ...

'' (1983, 6 episodes) as Geoffrey * ''

Nanny A nanny is a person who provides child care. Typically, this care is given within the children's family setting. Throughout history, nannies were usually servants in large households and reported directly to the lady of the house. Today, modern ...

'' (1983, 1 episode) as Mr. Croome * '' Number 10'' (1983, 1 episode) as Lord Harcourt * '' The Lady Is a Tramp'' (1984, 1 episode) as Man * ''

The Masks of Death ''The Masks of Death'' is a 1984 British mystery television film directed by Roy Ward Baker and starring Peter Cushing as Sherlock Holmes and John Mills as Doctor Watson. Plot In 1913, Sherlock Holmes, virtually in retirement, is persuaded by ...

'' (1984, TV film) as Frederick Baines * ''

Sharing Time Sharing is the joint use of a resource or space. It is also the process of dividing and distributing. In its narrow sense, it refers to joint or alternating use of inherently finite goods, such as a common pasture or a shared residence. St ...

'' (1984, 1 episode) as Arthur * '' Strangers and Brothers'' (1984, 3 episodes) as Mr. Knight * ''

'' (1985, 5 episodes) as Major Andrews * '' My Brother Jonathan'' (1985, 2 episodes) as Reverend Perry * ''

Marjorie and Men ''Marjorie and Men'' is a British comedy television series which originally aired on ITV in 1985.Maxford p.569 A recently divorced woman tries to revive her love life while living with her meddling mother. Main cast * Patricia Routledge as M ...

'' (1985, 4 episodes) as Henry Bartlett * ''

The Pickwick Papers ''The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club'' (also known as ''The Pickwick Papers'') was Charles Dickens's first novel. Because of his success with '' Sketches by Boz'' published in 1836, Dickens was asked by the publisher Chapman & Hall to ...

'' (1985, 1 episode) as Nupkins * '' Up the Elephant and Round the Castle'' (1985, 1 episode) as The Major * ''

Call Me Mister ''Call Me Mister'' is a revue with sketches by Arnold Auerbach and words and music by Harold Rome. The title refers to troops who are happily returning to civilian life and no longer want to be addressed by their military ranks. The Broadway pr ...

'' (1986, 1 episode) as Charlie Staples * ''

Miss Marple Miss Marple is a fictional character in Agatha Christie's crime novels and short stories. Jane Marple lives in the village of St. Mary Mead and acts as an amateur consulting detective. Often characterized as an elderly spinster, she is one of ...

'' (1987, 1 episode) as Colonel Luscombe * ''

Grand Larceny Larceny is a crime involving the unlawful taking or theft of the personal property of another person or business. It was an offence under the common law of England and became an offence in jurisdictions which incorporated the common law of Engl ...

'' (1987, TV film) * ''

Rude Health Rudeness (also called effrontery) is a display of actual or perceived disrespect by not complying with the social norms or etiquette of a group or culture. These norms have been established as the essential boundaries of normally accepted be ...

'' (1988, 1 episode) as Col. Jardine * '' Chelworth'' (1989, 2 episodes) as Mr. Kilbeck * '' Woof!'' (1990, 1 episode) as Mr. Hudson * '' Murder Most Horrid'' (1991, 1 episode) as Sir Hugh Lotterby *''

Adam Dalgliesh Adam Dalgliesh (pronounced "dal-gleash") is a fictional character who is the protagonist of fourteen mystery novels by P. D. James; the first being James's 1962 novel ''Cover Her Face''. He also appears in the two novels featuring James's other ...

'' (1993, 1 episode) as Justin Bryce * '' Under the Hammer'' (1994, 1 episode) as Meredith Bland

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Cossins, James 1933 births 1997 deaths English male film actors English male television actors People from Beckenham Male actors from Kent 20th-century Royal Air Force personnel Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art People educated at the City of London School 20th-century English male actors