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David Sillito looks back at George Cole's life on screen
Actor George Cole, best known for playing Arthur Daley in TV's Minder, has died aged 90.
Cole played the Cockney wheeler dealer Daley for 16 years, between 1979 and 1994.
He also starred in a number of St Trinian's films as shady businessman Flash Harry.
Agent Derek Webster said Cole had died at the Royal Berkshire hospital following a short illness, surrounded by his family. Cole played opposite Dennis Waterman's Terry McCann, an affable bodyguard, in ITV's Minder for more than a decade.
Waterman
said he had "the privilege of spending Tuesday afternoon with him and
Penny and, although very frail, his wit was as evident as ever."
"I
am so sad to hear of George's death. His family must be devastated, and
I am absolutely certain that anybody who ever knew him, will feel the
same.
"I'm so grateful to have been a friend of this wonderful
man. We worked together for many years and my boast is that we laughed
all day every day.
"He was an amazing man, a wonderful actor and besotted with his family. Farewell old friend."
Waterman, who sang the Minder theme tune, left the show to be replaced by Gary Webster for the final two series.
Talking to BBC News, Webster called Cole a "comic genius" who "made you realise there's an Arthur Daley in every family".
"He
was one of those characters you never thought you never thought you are
going to be without, both as an actor and a character," he added.
"He was a great guy to work with and a real genuine gentleman." Arthur Daley became a TV legend
as a small-time crook who was always dreaming of bigger things, with
the series regularly drawing in audiences of 17 million.
Cole also
played Flash Harry, a remarkably similar character, in four St
Trinian's films between 1954-66, starring alongside the likes of Terry
Thomas, Joyce Grenfell and Sid James in the boarding school comedies.
It
also allowed him to work with Alistair Sim, who had become his mentor
after taking him into his home at the age of 15 alongside his adoptive
mother.
They had such a close relationship that eventually Cole
opted to build and live in a house next door to Sim and his wife,
continuing to appear in a number of films together.
Cole began
acting in the early 1940s, appearing with Lawrence Olivier in The
Demi-Paradise, and taking a small role in Olivier's star-studded Henry
V.
He joined the war effort in 1944, joining the Royal Air Force, before resuming his acting career when the conflict ended.
He found himself consistently in work, on stage, television film and radio.
As
well as the St Trinian's films, he also starred opposite Elizabeth
Taylor and Richard Burton in Cleopatra, and gothic horror The Vampire
Lovers. Cole was 70 when Minder
finished but he still worked regularly, with guest roles in the likes of
Midsomer Murders, Heartbeat and New Tricks, which also starred
Waterman.
Cole, who was made an OBE in 1992, married his second wife Penny in 1967.
Bugger. I've been having a hard week and this just is too much. 'Comrade Dad.' But he had a great run. Similar in many ways to Denholm Elliot. An actor who could take a minor role and dominate the drama. I need a break. Take care, Terry and rest those eyes. Be back in a few days.
Sepp, you refer to, of course, Henry Cuthbert Edwards aka "Flash Harry". The character was played by the late Joe Melia in The Wildcats of St Trinian's in 1980 (?) or 1981 -he was a good and very under rated actor but Cole was the ONLY real Flash Harry. I will only mention, whilst vomitting, that the **** Russell Brand played the character in the newer films. How quickly can a talentless **** destroy a loved character? Stransky: The guy was 90 -I should live that long. So long as it isn't you that died consider it a "win" like I do. That scythe wielding bastid is just waiting til I'm off guard. Take care of yourself and watch out for Soudelor!
Mmm. I was unfortunate enough to see the newer films. Just a no style rip off that very quickly grew tedious. Saw the Wildcats and hated that a synth was used for Harry. That just signalled the eighties!
Bugger. I've been having a hard week and this just is too much. 'Comrade Dad.' But he had a great run. Similar in many ways to Denholm Elliot. An actor who could take a minor role and dominate the drama. I need a break. Take care, Terry and rest those eyes. Be back in a few days.
ReplyDeleteI used to love the Spiv and would wait for him to turn up with the jaunty little theme in the St Trinians' films.
ReplyDeleteSepp, you refer to, of course, Henry Cuthbert Edwards aka "Flash Harry". The character was played by the late Joe Melia in The Wildcats of St Trinian's in 1980 (?) or 1981 -he was a good and very under rated actor but Cole was the ONLY real Flash Harry. I will only mention, whilst vomitting, that the **** Russell Brand played the character in the newer films. How quickly can a talentless **** destroy a loved character?
ReplyDeleteStransky: The guy was 90 -I should live that long. So long as it isn't you that died consider it a "win" like I do. That scythe wielding bastid is just waiting til I'm off guard. Take care of yourself and watch out for Soudelor!
Mmm. I was unfortunate enough to see the newer films. Just a no style rip off that very quickly grew tedious. Saw the Wildcats and hated that a synth was used for Harry. That just signalled the eighties!
Delete