Biography
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. After service in the Royal Air Force, he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where he won the silver medal in 1952.
Cossins began in repertory theatre and at the Nottingham Playhouse. He appeared in more than forty films, including The Anniversary (1968), The Lost Continent (1968), The Man with the Golden Gun (1974), The First Great Train Robbery (1978) and Gandhi (1982). On television he was known for roles such as Mr Walt in the Fawlty Towers episode "The Hotel Inspectors" (1975), Mr Watson in Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em (1973), and a magistrate in Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? (1973). He also appeared in series including The Likely Lads, Callan, The Sweeney, Minder and Emmerdale Farm.
