James Cossins
Known for Acting · 88 credits
- Born
- 1933-12-04
- Died
- 1997-02-12
- Place of birth
- Beckenham, Kent, England, UK
Biography
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
Known For
TV Shows (39)
Coronation Street
1960
as Mr. Soames
The Avengers
1961
as Henry
Crown Court
1972
as Graham Erringburn
Minder
1979
as Judge
Bergerac
1981
as Tuchel / Calhoun
The Sweeney
1975
as Colonel Rosier
Theatre 625
1964
as Henry
No Hiding Place
1959
All Creatures Great and Small
1978
as Mr. Barge / Aloysius Barge
Thriller
1973
as Kellet
Justice
1971
as Mr. Ritson
Van der Valk
1972
as Noordhoff
The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes
1971
as Dr. Jervis
Fawlty Towers
1975
as Mr. Walt
Churchill's People
1974
as William
Murder Most Horrid
1991
as Sir Hugh Lotterby
Callan
1967
Mystery and Imagination
1966
as Landlord
Centre Play
1973
as Burret
Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?
1973
as Magistrate
Fall of Eagles
1974
as Count Josi Hoyos
The Pallisers
1974
as Sergeant Bunfit
The Good Life
1975
as Magistrate
Citizen Smith
1977
as Court Judge
Londoners
1965
as The Interviewer
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
1973
Shadows
1975
as Custodian
The Likely Lads
1964
as Scoutmaster / Vicar
Miss Marple: At Bertram's Hotel
1987
as Colonel Luscombe
Call Me Mister
1986
Armchair Theatre
1956
as Uncle Eric
Number 10
1983
as Sir William Harcourt
The Ten Commandments
1971
as Tom
One-Upmanship
1976
Pretenders
1972
as Old Elam
Marjorie And Men
1985
Good Girl
1974
as Manager
Bel Ami
1971
as Charles Forestier
L For Lester
1982
as Chief Inspector Rodgers
Movies (49)
The Man with the Golden Gun
1974
as Colthorpe
Gandhi
1982
as Brigadier
The First Great Train Robbery
1978
as Harranby
Wuthering Heights
1970
as Mr. Linton
Melody
1971
as Headmaster
Darling
1965
as Mr. Basildon
Blood from the Mummy's Tomb
1971
as Older Male Nurse
James Bond: The First 21 Years
1983
as Colthorpe (archive footage)
Sphinx
1981
as Lord Carnarvon
The Anniversary
1968
as Henry Taggart
Villain
1971
as Brown
Young Winston
1972
as Barnsby
Carry On Camping
1969
as Man in Cinema (uncredited)
Hitler: The Last Ten Days
1973
as German Officer
Follow Me!
1972
as Party Guest (uncredited)
The Funny Blokes of British Comedy
2005
as Mr. Walt (archive footage) (uncredited)
Death Line
1972
as James Manfred O.BE.
The Horror of Frankenstein
1970
as Dean
Otley
1969
as Jeffcot
Fear in the Night
1972
as The Doctor
Why Didn't They Ask Evans?
1980
as Henry Bassington-ffrench
How I Won the War
1967
as Drogue
The Lost Continent
1968
as Nick, chief engineer
A Dandy in Aspic
1968
Bequest to the Nation
1973
as McKillop
The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer
1970
as Crodder
The Deadly Bees
1966
as Coroner
Unnatural Causes
1993
as Justin Bryce
Love's Labour's Lost
1965
as Holofernes
Immaculate Conception
1992
as Godfrey
The Masks of Death
1984
as Frederick Bains
The Incredible Robert Baldick: Never Come Night
1972
as Peter Elmstead
A Day Out
1972
as Mr. Shorter
The Breaking of Colonel Keyser
1972
as Partridge
The Prophet
1967
as Interviewer
Grand Larceny
1987
Timon of Athens
1981
as Lucullus
Aliens
1982
as Major Lucas
The Invasion
1963
as TV Commentator
Privilege
1967
as Professor Tatham
That Sinking Feeling
1973
as Eric
The Piano
1971
as Jeremy
Say Hello to Yesterday
1971
as Policeman
Possession
1973
as Kellet
Mad Jack
1970
The Rainbirds
1971
as Father - Mr. Rainbird
What Next?
1974
Strife
1965
as William Scantlebury
Bel Ami
1971
as Forestier
About James Cossins
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 appeare… With 88 credits spanning from 1956 to 2005, James Cossins has appeared in 49 films and 39 TV shows.
Fans searching for James Cossins movies, James Cossins filmography, or the latest projects starring James Cossins can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular James Cossins Movies
- The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) — as Colthorpe
- Gandhi (1982) — as Brigadier
- The First Great Train Robbery (1978) — as Harranby
- Wuthering Heights (1970) — as Mr. Linton
- Melody (1971) — as Headmaster
Where to Watch James Cossins Films
Most James Cossins movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring James Cossins, check our movies catalogue and browse page.