Graham Cole

Last updated

Graham Cole
OBE
Graham Cole (background mod).jpg
Cole at the 3rd Norwich Sci-Fi Film, Comic, Toy & Collectors Fair on 1 November 2009.
Born
Graham Coleman-Smith

(1952-03-16) 16 March 1952 (age 72)
Willesden, Middlesex, England
Occupation Actor
Years active1976–present
Spouse
Cherry Coleman-Smith
(m. 1983)
Children2

Graham Cole OBE (born Graham Coleman-Smith on 16 March 1952) is an English actor.

Contents

Early life

Cole was born in Willesden, Middlesex in 1952 to Victor and Freda Coleman-Smith (née Coleman), the youngest of three children.

He was part of the film crew of A Clockwork Orange , although he didn't meet the stars. It was when he took part in a staff pantomime, that his colleagues persuaded him to take up a career in showbusiness. [1]

Career

He appeared in numerous episodes of Doctor Who in the early 1980s, often in uncredited roles, such as Marshman and then a Cyberman in Earthshock. He has also played Melkur in The Keeper of Traken and finally a Jacondan in The Twin Dilemma . He also made a guest appearance in the final series of Sooty and Co as a detective called Maurice in the episode "Delgrub" and in Only Fools and Horses as a Spanish customs official. His first film appearance as a '00' agent in the James Bond film The Living Daylights in 1987. Cole then appeared in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade as one of Walter Donovan's henchmen, who escort Indiana Jones to their boss's New York apartment. [2]

He is best known as PC Tony Stamp in the ITV police drama The Bill , a role he played initially as a recurring character from 1984, and then as a regular from 1988 until 2009. [3] Cole appeared in more episodes of the programme than any other actor, appearing in 1,202 episodes. He had previously spent 12 years in Repertory Theatre, and musicals.

He presented and narrated the police video programme Police Stop! . He appeared regularly on Noel's House Party in sketches with Andrew Paul. Cole was gunged on the show, which was arranged by his mother-in-law. He has also made a guest appearance in ITV series Law & Order: UK as a barman in one episode.

Cole in costume after appearing in a pantomime in Lichfield in 2015 GColePanto.jpg
Cole in costume after appearing in a pantomime in Lichfield in 2015

Cole is also a singer. In his early career Cole appeared as the Emperor of China in a record-breaking 1978/79 season of Aladdin at the Grand Theatre in Swansea. Other pantomime appearances have included the role of "Beast" in Beauty & The Beast at the Woodville Halls in Gravesend, Kent. To date he has appeared in 36 pantomimes. He played Scrooge to critical acclaim at Garrick Theatre Lichfield in 2012 and Abanazer for Theater Royal Norwich, 2013–2014. He Played General Waverley In Irving Berlin's White Christmas at The Festival Theatre Edinburgh.

He then returned to the role in 2015/16 to record breaking houses at The Dominion Theatre London.

Cole starred in the gangster-horror film Evil Never Dies in 2014, as DI David Bracken, a film that also starred Katy Manning, P.H. Moriarty and former The Bill colleague Tony Scannell. Cole made appearances in Doctors (2015) and Holby City (2018), before starring in the romantic-drama film 23 Walks in 2020 with Alison Steadman.

Personal life

Cole is a member of the showbusiness charity the Grand Order of Water Rats and held the title King Rat in 2009. He is President of the National Holiday Fund, which takes sick and disabled children to Disney World in Florida. He has been a patron of ChildLine for over 25 years and is the president of Greater London South East Scout County.

Cole supports emergency service charities with his patronage. He is a patron of the Orphans' Gift Fund South East London Boroughs of the Constables Branch Board of the Metropolitan Police and of the charity PTSD999. He is a Voluntary Police Cadets ambassador.

Cole was awarded an OBE in 2010 for his continuing work with charities. Cole is married and has two children.

He was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1997 when he was surprised by Michael Aspel. [4]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1987 The Living Daylights AgentUncredited
1987 Hope and Glory Audience MemberUncredited
1989 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade HenchmanUncredited
1997The Usual ChildrenDad
2010DerelictTarsusShort film
2014 Evil Never Dies DI David Bracken
2016ZunzMelvilleShort film
2020 23 Walks Jimmy
2022Broken GlassTomShort film

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1976The Canal ChildrenMick MurphyEpisode: "Poor Man's Morris"
1979 Secret Army German soldier in cafe

Guerilla (uncredited)

2 episodes
1980 Citizen Smith UncreditedEpisode: "Prisoners"
1981 Kessler Hotel surveillance man
1981 Blake's 7 Federation Trooper

Gerren's Associate

2 episodes
1982 Smiley's People Agent in office (uncredited)Episode: "A Mother's Assistance"
1982 Only Fools and Horses Customers OfficerEpisode: "It Never Rains..."
1983 Rumpole of the Bailey Pressman (uncredited)Episode: "Rumpole and the Old Boy Net"
1984 Tucker's Luck 2nd PolicemanEpisode: "The Hump"
1984 Minder Party Guest (uncredited)Episode: "A Well Fashioned Fit-Up"
1980–1984 Doctor Who Various22 episodes
1984 Fresh Fields Mr. Winter (uncredited)Episode: "Something in the Oven"
1984 The Young Ones Ghost Body (uncredited)Episode: "Cash"
1982–1984 The Gentle Touch Detective

Gay Vigilante (uncredited)

2 episodes
1986 Casualty Junior DoctorEpisode: "Gas"
1982–1987 The Kenny Everett Television Show Bus Passenger2 episodes
1988CrossfireTerrorist (uncredited)Episode: "The Motive, Not the Deed"
1988 Hot Metal Crucible employee (uncredited)Episode: "Crown of Thorns"
1998 Sooty & Co. MauriceEpisode: "Delgrub"
1992–1999 Noel's House Party Man at the Door7 episodes
2001 Sooty Police Detective
2004The Bill @ 21 PC Tony Stamp Television film

A two day event to celebrate the 21st anniversary of 'The Bill', including episodes, clips and specially filmed intros by past and present cast members

2007 The Dame Edna Treatment Tony StampEpisode: #1.6
1984–2009 The Bill PC Tony Stamp1206 episodes
2012 Doctor Who: The Lost Stories EbbkoEpisode: "The Guardians of Prophecy"
2014 Law & Order: UK Terry WilsonEpisode: "I Predict a Riot"
2015 Doctors Callum JenkinsEpisode: "The Key"
2018 Holby City Larry O'SheaEpisode: "There by the Grace of..."
2021The Lives of Frankie AbbottCharlie2 episodes

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Jason</span> English actor (born 1940)

Sir David John White, known professionally by his stage name David Jason, is an English actor. He has played Derek "Del Boy" Trotter in the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses, Detective Inspector Jack Frost in A Touch of Frost, Granville in Open All Hours and Still Open All Hours, and Pop Larkin in The Darling Buds of May, as well as voicing several cartoon characters, including Mr. Toad in The Wind in the Willows, the BFG in the 1989 film, and the title characters of Danger Mouse and Count Duckula.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jane Asher</span> English actress and author

Jane Asher is an English actress and author. She achieved early fame as a child actress, and then through her association with Paul McCartney, and has worked extensively in film and TV throughout her career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Susan Hampshire</span> British actress, born 1937

Susan Hampshire, Lady Kulukundis, is an English actress known for her many television and film roles. She is a three-time Emmy Award winner, winning for The Forsyte Saga in 1970, The First Churchills in 1969, and for Vanity Fair in 1973. Her other television credits include The Pallisers (1974), The Grand (1997–98) and Monarch of the Glen (2000–2005).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin Clunes</span> English actor (born 1961)

Alexander Martin Clunes is an English actor, director and television presenter. He is best known for portraying Dr Martin Ellingham in the ITV comedy-drama series Doc Martin, Gary Strang in Men Behaving Badly, and William Shawcross in William and Mary. Clunes has narrated a number of documentaries for ITV, the first of which was Islands of Britain in 2009. He has since presented a number of documentaries centred on animals. He has also voiced Kipper the Dog in the animated series Kipper.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Butterworth</span> English actor and comedian (1915–1979)

Peter William Shorrocks Butterworth was a British actor and comedian best known for his appearances in the Carry On film series. He was also a regular on children's television and radio. Butterworth was married to actress and impressionist Janet Brown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Nettles</span> English actor

John Vivian Drummond Nettles, OBE is an English actor and author. He is best known for his starring roles as detectives in the crime drama television series Bergerac (1981–1991) in the title role, and Midsomer Murders (1997–2011) as Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby. He has also narrated several television series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shane Richie</span> British actor, singer (b. 1964)

Shane Patrick Paul Roche, known as Shane Richie, is an English actor, comedian, television presenter and singer. Following initial success as a stage and screen performer, he became best known for his portrayal of the character Alfie Moon in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders and then in its spin-off RTÉ Drama Redwater in 2017. In 2020, he appeared on the twentieth series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here and finished in fourth place.

Robert Christopher Nankeville, known professionally as Bobby Davro, is an English actor and comedian.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danny La Rue</span> Irish singer and entertainer (1927–2009)

Danny La Rue, was an Irish-English singer and entertainer, best known for his on-stage drag persona. He performed in drag and also as himself in theatrical productions, television shows and film.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dora Bryan</span> English actress (1923–2014)

Dora May Broadbent,, known as Dora Bryan, was a British actress of stage, film and television.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Kitchen</span> English actor

Michael Roy Kitchen is an English actor and television producer, best known for his starring role as Detective Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle in the ITV drama Foyle's War, which comprised eight series between 2002 and 2015. He also played the role of Bill Tanner in two James Bond films opposite Pierce Brosnan, and that of John Farrow in BBC Four's comedy series Brian Pern.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vicki Michelle</span> British actress

Vicki Michelle is an English actress, radio presenter, businesswoman, film producer and former model. She is best known for her role as Yvette Carte-Blanche in the BBC television comedy series 'Allo 'Allo! and as recurring character Patricia Foster in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale. In 2014, she appeared on the fourteenth series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here.

Sally Jane Lindsay is an English actress and television presenter. She rose to fame playing Shelley Unwin in the long-running ITV soap opera Coronation Street (2001–2006). Her other roles include Lisa Johnson in the Sky One comedy-drama Mount Pleasant (2011–2017), Alison Bailey in the ITV police procedural Scott & Bailey (2011–2016), and Kath Agnew in the BBC sitcom Still Open All Hours (2013–2019). Since 2021, she has starred as Jean White in Channel 5's The Madame Blanc Mysteries (2021–present), which she co-created and produces.

Reece Dinsdale is an English actor and director of stage, film and television. He is a Huddersfield Town fan.

Michael Starke is a British actor and singer from Liverpool, England. He was best known for his role as Thomas 'Sinbad' Sweeney, which he played for sixteen years in the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gemma Bissix</span> English actress (b. 1983)

Gemma Bissix is an English actress. She has been acting since the age of 9. Her most prominent roles have been in soap operas, as Clare Bates in EastEnders and Clare Devine in Hollyoaks ; she was awarded with two British Soap Awards for the latter role. Away from soap opera, Bissix has appeared in various television programmes and she competed in the 2009 series of Dancing on Ice. She has appeared in various pantomimes. Bissix returned to Hollyoaks in 2013.

Ben Richards is a British stage and television actor and dancer. Richards studied dance from an early age and later took part in theatre. He gained supporting roles in London's West End and gradually filled the role of the lead. After small roles in two films, Richards began his television career with guest roles in various British serials. In 2004, he joined the regular cast of the ITV drama Footballers' Wives and after the series ended he resumed theatre work. Richards went on to secure roles in Holby City and The Bill. While working on the latter, Richards said that he would always pursue his career in theatre. After leaving the series he returned to theatre work. In 2015, he joined the cast of the soap opera Hollyoaks and finished filming the following year. He then returned to stage roles in the West End.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Melody</span> English actor

Anthony John Melody was an English television character actor who appeared in a number of long running comedies and soap operas. with more than 100 television roles.

Billy Pearce is an English performer, comedian, actor and entertainer. A regular on UK television in the 1980s and 1990s, Pearce has been described as a "supreme entertainer". He particularly loves performing at the Alhambra Theatre in Bradford, where he consistently breaks box office records

Tony Maudsley is an English actor. He is best known for his portrayal of hairdresser Kenneth Du Beke in the hit ITV sitcom Benidorm, and George Shuttleworth in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street (2020–present).

References

  1. "Graham Cole Biography". 6 April 2010.
  2. @GrahamcoleAct (16 August 2013). "Just to prove It was me honest" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  3. "A Quick Chat with Graham Cole". United Kingdom: TV Quick. 27 October 2009. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
  4. "This Is Your Life[06/10/97] (1997)". BFI. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Graham Cole at Wikimedia Commons