---
name: "James Cossins"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/james-cossins"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "4 December 1933"
died: "12 February 1997"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 4
average_fi1m_score: 85
updated: "2026-09-16T21:21:00.393631+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# James Cossins

Actor. Born 4 December 1933 in Beckenham, Kent, England, UK. Died 12 February 1997.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 4 December 1933, Beckenham, Kent, England, UK
- **Died:** 12 February 1997
- **Active:** 1967–1975

## 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*.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (4)

- *Fawlty Towers* (1975), Fi1m 90, as Mr. Walt — [page](https://film.one/tv/fawlty-towers.md)
- *The Good Life* (1975), Fi1m 85, as Magistrate — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-good-life.md)
- *Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em* (1973), Fi1m 78, Actor — [page](https://film.one/tv/some-mothers-do-ave-em.md)
- *Callan* (1967), Fi1m 86, Actor — [page](https://film.one/tv/callan.md)

## Also credited on (not yet reviewed)

- *Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?* (1973), Actor

## Also known for

- *The Man with the Golden Gun* (1974), Colthorpe
- *The First Great Train Robbery* (1978), Harranby
- *Scrooge* (1970), Party Guest (uncredited)
- *The Avengers* (1961), Henry
- *Darling* (1965), Mr. Basildon
- *Death Line* (1972), James Manfred O.BE.
- *Coronation Street* (1960), Mr. Soames
- *Blood from the Mummy's Tomb* (1971), Older Male Nurse

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/james-cossins