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
Theatre 625
1964
as Henry
The Sweeney
1975
as Colonel Rosier
All Creatures Great and Small
1978
as Mr. Barge / Aloysius Barge
No Hiding Place
1959
Thriller
1973
as Kellet
Justice
1971
as Mr. Ritson
Churchill's People
1974
as William
Van der Valk
1972
as Noordhoff
Fawlty Towers
1975
as Mr. Walt
The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes
1971
as Dr. Jervis
Murder Most Horrid
1991
as Sir Hugh Lotterby
Callan
1967
Centre Play
1973
as Burret
Mystery and Imagination
1966
as Landlord
Fall of Eagles
1974
as Count Josi Hoyos
Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?
1973
as Magistrate
The Pallisers
1974
as Sergeant Bunfit
The Good Life
1975
as Magistrate
Citizen Smith
1977
as Court Judge
Londoners
1965
as The Interviewer
Shadows
1975
as Custodian
The Likely Lads
1964
as Scoutmaster / Vicar
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
1973
Miss Marple: At Bertram's Hotel
1987
as Colonel Luscombe
Call Me Mister
1986
Number 10
1983
as Sir William Harcourt
Armchair Theatre
1956
as Uncle Eric
The Ten Commandments
1971
as Tom
Bel Ami
1971
as Charles Forestier
Pretenders
1972
as Old Elam
One-Upmanship
1976
Good Girl
1974
as Manager
Marjorie And Men
1985
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
Sphinx
1981
as Lord Carnarvon
Melody
1971
as Headmaster
Wuthering Heights
1970
as Mr. Linton
Follow Me!
1972
as Party Guest (uncredited)
The Anniversary
1968
as Henry Taggart
Darling
1965
as Mr. Basildon
The Funny Blokes of British Comedy
2005
as Mr. Walt (archive footage) (uncredited)
Carry On Camping
1969
as Man in Cinema (uncredited)
Blood from the Mummy's Tomb
1971
as Older Male Nurse
Villain
1971
as Brown
Young Winston
1972
as Barnsby
James Bond: The First 21 Years
1983
as Colthorpe (archive footage)
Hitler: The Last Ten Days
1973
as German Officer
Death Line
1972
as James Manfred O.BE.
The Lost Continent
1968
as Nick, chief engineer
The Horror of Frankenstein
1970
as Dean
Bequest to the Nation
1973
as McKillop
Otley
1969
as Jeffcot
The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer
1970
as Crodder
Fear in the Night
1972
as The Doctor
The Deadly Bees
1966
as Coroner
Why Didn't They Ask Evans?
1980
as Henry Bassington-ffrench
Love's Labour's Lost
1965
as Holofernes
How I Won the War
1967
as Drogue
A Dandy in Aspic
1968
Unnatural Causes
1993
as Justin Bryce
The Incredible Robert Baldick: Never Come Night
1972
as Peter Elmstead
The Masks of Death
1984
as Frederick Bains
Privilege
1967
as Professor Tatham
Timon of Athens
1981
as Lucullus
The Breaking of Colonel Keyser
1972
as Partridge
Immaculate Conception
1992
as Godfrey
That Sinking Feeling
1973
as Eric
Aliens
1982
as Major Lucas
A Day Out
1972
as Mr. Shorter
The Prophet
1967
as Interviewer
Say Hello to Yesterday
1971
as Policeman
The Piano
1971
as Jeremy
The Invasion
1963
as TV Commentator
Grand Larceny
1987
Possession
1973
as Kellet
What Next?
1974
Strife
1965
as William Scantlebury
Bel Ami
1971
as Forestier
Mad Jack
1970
The Rainbirds
1971
as Father - Mr. Rainbird
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
- Sphinx (1981) — as Lord Carnarvon
- 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.