James Cossins


James Cossins was an English actor. Born in Beckenham, 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.

Early life

Cossins was born in Beckenham and educated at the City of London School. After serving in the Royal Air Force, he trained at Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where he won the silver medal in 1952.

Career

Cossins first appeared in repertory theatre and at the Nottingham Playhouse. 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, Garth Forwood, Joanna McCallum, and Celia Bannerman. He appeared in more than forty films, including The Anniversary, and The Lost Continent, Gandhi, and The Man with the Golden Gun.
On the small screen, Cossins 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, Just William, The Good Life, L for Lester, Neville Dennis in Callan "Rules of the Game", Z-Cars, and as the regular character Bruce Westrop in Emmerdale Farm. He also played Major Bagstock in Dombey and Son, and appeared in the first series of All in Good Faith in 1985. He played a magistrate in episodes of four different British sitcoms, Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?, The Good Life, Citizen Smith and Minder.
Cossins's 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 as BasildonThe Deadly Bees as CoronerPrivilege as Professor TathamHow I Won the War as DrogueThe Anniversary as Henry TaggartA Dandy in Aspic as Heston-StevasThe Lost Continent as Nick, Chief EngineerOtley as GeffcockScrooge as Party Guest The Horror of Frankenstein as DeanThe Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer as CrodderWuthering Heights as Mr. LintonSay Hello to Yesterday as PolicemanMelody as HeadmasterVillain as BrownBlood from the Mummy's Tomb as Older Male NurseDeath Line as James Manfred, OBEFear in the Night as The DoctorFollow Me! as Party Guest Young Winston as BarnsbyBequest to the Nation as McKillop - HMS VictoryHitler: The Last Ten Days as German OfficerThe Man with the Golden Gun as ColthorpeThe First Great Train Robbery as HarranbyLoophole as 1st InterviewerSphinx as Lord CarnarvonGandhi as BrigadierImmaculate Conception as Godfrey

Television

The Dangerous Game as AuctioneerSaturday Playhouse as Frank CoppinTheatre Night as Edgar Lucas, the bride's fatherThe Caucasian Chalk Circle as SchauwaZ-Cars as Sergeant MichaelsonCompact as Newcastle PopeArmchair Theatre as PartridgeITV Television Playhouse as HilliardThe Sullavan Brothers as Maurice AshleyLondoners as The interviewerNo Hiding Place as 'Muddy' WatersCoronation Street as Interviewer The Man in Room 17 as Harry MorrisonLegend of Death as IrwinThe Likely Lads as Scoutmaster/VicarMystery and Imagination as LandlordThe Power Game as Henry Outram/CandlefordTheatre 625 as Henry The Fellows as VisitorOut of the Unknown as InterviewerThe Contenders as BloaterStrange Report as ChurchillDr. Finlay's Casebook as Robbie CannockThe ITV Play as Mr. PeachhamThe Avengers as HenryPaul Temple as Inspector LescoeThe Wednesday Play as Colonel Jones-WilliamThirty-Minute Theatre as Tim SingletonDear Mother...Love Albert as S.M.N. Beanstock/Col. TomlinsonSpecial Branch as Det. Sgt. DavisMenace as Controller Bless This House as Tom WilliamsThe Ten Commandments as TomBel Ami as ForestierThe Rivals of Sherlock Holmes as. Dr. JervisPlay for Today as JeremyCallan as Neville DennisPretenders as Old ElamThe Incredible Robert Baldick: Never Come Nigh as Rev. Peter ElmsteadMan at the Top as Colonel BroadhurstA Day Out as ShorterCrown Court as Graham ErringburnThriller as KelletHarriet's Back in Town as ArthurMarked Personal as J.C. SmartVan der Valk as NoordhoffSome Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em as WatsonWhatever Happened to the Likely Lads? as a MagistrateFall of Eagles as Count Josi HoyosThe Pallisers as Sergeant BunfitJustice as Mr. RitsonThe Double Dealers as Sir JulianGood Girl as ManagerOh No, It's Selwyn Froggitt as ChairmanNotorious Woman as Gustave FlaubertCentre Play as BurretChurchill's People as WilliamFawlty Towers as Mr. WaltShadows as CustodianThe Good Life as MagistrateJackanory as StorytellerLove Thy Neighbour as George BrittainOne-Upmanship Shades of Greene as. Shop assistantThe Sweeney as Col. RosierDon't Forget to Write! as Phillip MounterBernie as Various partsThe Devil's Crown as Hugues de LusignanJust William as Uncle FrederickPrince Regent as Sir Robert GiffordAll Creatures Great and Small as Aloysius BargeCitizen Smith as JudgeThe Jim Davidson Show as Various partsJukes of Piccadilly as Geoffrey MartindaleWhy Didn't They Ask Evans? as Henry Bassington-ffrenchBergerac as Tuchel/CalhounRoger Doesn't Live Here Anymore as BaxterShelley as Bernard NelsonTimon of Athens as LucullusWinston Churchill: The Wilderness Years as Lord LothianThe Confessions of Felix Krull as Lord KilmarnockL for Lester as Chief Insp. RodgersMinder as JudgeDombey and Son as Major BagstockGoodnight and God Bless as GeoffreyNanny as Mr. CroomeNumber 10 as Lord HarcourtThe Lady Is a Tramp as ManThe Masks of Death as Frederick BainesSharing Time as ArthurStrangers and Brothers as Mr. Knight All in Good Faith as Major AndrewsMy Brother Jonathan as Reverend PerryMarjorie and Men as Henry BartlettThe Pickwick Papers as NupkinsUp the Elephant and Round the Castle as The MajorCall Me Mister as Charlie StaplesMiss Marple as Colonel LuscombeGrand Larceny Rude Health as Col. JardineChelworth as Mr. KilbeckWoof! as Mr. HudsonMurder Most Horrid as Sir Hugh Lotterby