James Cossins

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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

Filmography

Movies and shows, newest first

2005
The Funny Blokes of British Comedy
Movie Mr. Walt (archive footage) (uncredited)
1993
Unnatural Causes
Movie Justin Bryce
1992
Immaculate Conception
Movie Godfrey
1991
Murder Most Horrid
TV show Sir Hugh Lotterby
1987
Miss Marple: At Bertram's Hotel
TV show Colonel Luscombe
1987
Grand Larceny
Movie
1986
Call Me Mister
TV show
1985
All in Good Faith
TV show Major Andrews
1985
Marjorie And Men
TV show Henry Bartlett
1984
The Masks of Death
Movie Frederick Bains
1983
James Bond: The First 21 Years
Movie Colthorpe (archive footage)
1983
Good Night And God Bless
TV show Geoffrey
1983
Number 10
TV show Sir William Harcourt
1982
Gandhi
Movie Brigadier
1982
Aliens
Movie Major Lucas
1982
L For Lester
TV show Chief Inspector Rodgers