James Cossins

James Cossins (4 December 1933 – 12 February 1997) was an English actor born in Beckenham, Kent. He was educated at the City of London School before serving in the Royal Air Force. He subsequently trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where he was awarded the silver medal in 1952.

Cossins began his professional career in repertory theatre and at the Nottingham Playhouse. Over the course of his career he became known for portraying blustering, pompous, and cantankerous characters across stage, film, and television. In 1968 he appeared on Broadway in Portrait of a Queen. That same year he appeared in two films, The Lost Continent and The Anniversary, the latter of which saw him recreate a role he had originated on the West End stage. His film work across his career encompassed more than forty productions, including The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) and Gandhi (1982).

On stage, Cossins appeared in Charley's Aunt at the Apollo Theatre in 1971 alongside Tom Courtenay, David Horovitch, Garth Forwood, Joanna McCallum, and Celia Bannerman. His television work was extensive, with guest appearances on programmes including Z-Cars, The Sweeney, Bergerac, Minder, Bless This House, The Likely Lads, Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?, Citizen Smith, The Good Life, Just William, All Creatures Great and Small, Shadows, and L for Lester. He played Neville Dennis in the Callan episode "Rules of the Game" in 1972, and held the recurring role of Bruce Westrop in Emmerdale Farm in 1979. He also appeared in Dombey and Son (1983) as Major Bagstock and in the first series of All in Good Faith in 1985. Among his most recognised television appearances were his roles as Mr. Walt in the Fawlty Towers episode "The Hotel Inspectors" and as Mr. Watson, a public relations training course instructor, in an episode of Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em. He additionally played a magistrate in four separate British sitcoms: Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?, The Good Life, Citizen Smith, and Minder.

In his later years, Cossins's activity was curtailed by ill health and he lived in semi-retirement in Surrey. He died of heart disease on 12 February 1997 at the age of 63.