1933-12-04 Beckenham, Kent, England, UK
James Cossins (4 December 1933 – 12 February 1997) 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. 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. 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 (recreating his West End stage role), and The Lost Continent (both 1968), Gandhi (1982), and The Man with the Golden Gun (1974). 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" (1972), Z-Cars, 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 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
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Unnatural Causes | Justin Bryce | 1993-01-02 |
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Immaculate Conception | Godfrey | 1992-09-11 |
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The Masks of Death | Frederick Bains | 1984-12-23 |
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Gandhi | Brigadier | 1982-12-01 |
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Aliens | Major Lucas | 1982-11-30 |
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Timon of Athens | Lucullus | 1981-04-16 |
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Sphinx | Lord Carnarvon | 1981-02-11 |
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Why Didn't They Ask Evans? | Henry Bassington-ffrench | 1980-03-30 |
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The First Great Train Robbery | Harranby | 1978-12-14 |
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What Next? | 1974-01-01 | |
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The Man with the Golden Gun | Colthorpe | 1974-12-14 |
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Possession | Kellet | 1973-04-11 |
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Hitler: The Last Ten Days | German Officer | 1973-04-19 |
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Bequest to the Nation | McKillop (uncredited) | 1973-04-18 |
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That Sinking Feeling | Eric | 1973-11-13 |
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The Breaking of Colonel Keyser | Partridge | 1972-10-17 |
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Fear in the Night | The Doctor | 1972-07-09 |
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A Day Out | Mr. Shorter | 1972-12-24 |
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Death Line | James Manfred O.BE. | 1972-10-13 |
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The Incredible Robert Baldick: Never Come Night | Peter Elmstead | 1972-10-06 |
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Young Winston | Barnsby | 1972-07-20 |
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Melody | Headmaster | 1971-03-28 |
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The Piano | Jeremy | 1971-01-28 |
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The Rainbirds | Father - Mr. Rainbird | 1971-02-11 |
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Blood from the Mummy's Tomb | Older Male Nurse | 1971-06-16 |
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Say Hello to Yesterday | Policeman | 1971-01-14 |
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Villain | Brown | 1971-05-26 |
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The Horror of Frankenstein | Dean | 1970-11-08 |
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The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer | Crodder | 1970-11-12 |
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Mad Jack | 1970-02-04 | |
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Wuthering Heights | Mr. Linton | 1970-06-09 |
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Carry On Camping | Man in Cinema (uncredited) | 1969-05-29 |
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Otley | Jeffcot | 1969-03-11 |
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The Anniversary | Henry Taggart | 1968-02-07 |
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A Dandy in Aspic | 1968-04-02 | |
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The Lost Continent | Nick, chief engineer | 1968-06-19 |
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Privilege | Professor Tatham | 1967-02-28 |
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How I Won the War | Drogue | 1967-10-18 |
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The Deadly Bees | Coroner | 1966-12-23 |
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Darling | Mr. Basildon | 1965-08-03 |
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Love's Labour's Lost | Holofernes | 1965-05-06 |
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The Invasion | TV Commentator | 1963-03-31 |
