James Bolam
- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- June 16, 1935 in Sunderland, Tyne-and-Wear, England, UK
- Active Years
- 1956–2025 (70 Years)
- Total Credits
- 94 credits in database
Biography
James Christopher Bolam is an English actor who was born on June 16, 1935, in Sunderland, Tyne-and-Wear, England, United Kingdom. He is best known for his television roles as Terry Collier in The Likely Lads and its sequel Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?, as well as Jack Ford in When the Boat Comes In and Roy Figgis. Bolam is married to actress Susan Jameson, and the couple has one daughter. In 2009, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his services to acting. Throughout his career, he has accumulated numerous known acting credits across film and television.
Career overview
James Christopher Bolam is an English actor who was born on June 16, 1935, in Sunderland, Tyne-and-Wear, England, United Kingdom. Throughout his career, he has accumulated ninety-four known credits in the acting field. He is best known for his television roles as Terry Collier in The Likely Lads and its sequel Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?, as well as his portrayal of Jack Ford in When the Boat Comes In and Roy Figgis.
In addition to his television and film work, Bolam has received recognition for his contributions to the acting profession. In the year 2009, he was appointed as a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his services as an actor.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about James Bolam.
Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
94 titles- A Memory Owed (2025) as Stan
- Remembers… (2022) as Self
- Marriage (2022) as Gerry
- Wartime Christmas (2020) as Narrator
- British Sitcom: 60 Years of Laughing at Ourselves (2016) as Terry Collier (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Unconditional (2012) as Hutch
- Celebrity Antiques Road Trip (2011) as Self - Participant
- Tentboy (2011) as Baz
- Grandpa in My Pocket (2009)
- The Last Days of Lehman Brothers (2009) as Ken Lewis
- Celebration (2007) as Matt
- The Plot Against Harold Wilson (2006) as Harold Wilson
- New Tricks (2004) as Jack Halford
- He Knew He Was Right (2004) as Mr Crump
- The Afternoon Play (2003) as Billy
- To Kill a King (2003) as Denzil Holles
- Born and Bred (2002) as Dr. Arthur Gilder
- Harold Shipman: Doctor Death (2002) as Harold Shipman
- Close and True (2000) as Graham True
- Pay and Display (2000) as Sydney Street
- It Was an Accident (2000) as Vernon Fitch
- Victoria Wood with All the Trimmings (2000) as Various Characters
- Dirty Tricks (2000) as Moss
- Stormin' Norman (2000) as Norman
- The End of the Affair (1999) as Mr. Savage
- The Alex Ferguson Story (1998) as Narrator
- The Stalker's Apprentice (1998) as Helmut Kranze
- Midsomer Murders (1997) as Ron Pringle
- The Island on Bird Street (1997) as Doctor Studjinsky
- Stella Does Tricks (1997) as Mr. Peters
- The Missing Postman (1997) as Clive Peacock
- The Missing Postman (1997) as Clive Peacock
- Eleven Men Against Eleven (1995) as Ted Whitehead
- Clockwork Mice (1995) as Wackey
- Second Thoughts (1991) as Bill
- Sticky Wickets (1990) as Glyn
- Screen One (1989) as Glyn
- Communicators From Hell (1989)
- Andy Capp (1988) as Andy Capp
- The Beiderbecke Connection (1988) as Trevor Chaplin
- The Beiderbecke Tapes (1987) as Trevor Chaplin
- Room at the Bottom (1986)
- The Beiderbecke Affair (1985) as Trevor Chaplin
- Shades of Darkness (1983) as Arthur Frode
- ITV Christmas Comedy (1983)
- The Maze (1983) as Arthur Frode
- Clash of Loyalties (1983) as A.T. Wilson
- Macbeth (1983) as Porter
- The Plague Dogs (1982) as The Tod (voice)
- Only When I Laugh (1979) as Roy Figgis
- Armchair Thriller (1978) as Mark Omney
- The BBC Television Shakespeare (1978) as Touchstone
- As You Like It (1978) as Touchstone
- The Limbo Connection (1978) as Mark Omney
- When the Boat Comes In (1976) as Jack Ford
- The Likely Lads (1976) as Terry
- In Celebration (1975) as Colin Shaw
- The Philanthropist (1975) as Don
- If You Could See What I Can See (1974) as Charlie
- Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? (1973) as Terry Collier
- O Lucky Man! (1973) as Attenborough/Examination Doctor
- Oranges and Lemons (1973) as Arthur
- Making the Play (1973) as Husband
- The Protectors (1972) as Max Toller
- Straight On Till Morning (1972) as Joey
- Crucible of Terror (1972) as John Davies
- The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes (1971) as Roberts
- Budgie (1971) as Wossname
- Budgie (1971) as Wossname Walsh
- Play for Today (1970) as Husband
- W. Somerset Maugham (1969) as Leslie Gaze
- Otley (1969) as Albert
- Omnibus - Graham Greene: The Hunted Man (1968) as Pinkie
- Omnibus (1967) as Pinkie
- Boy Meets Girl (1967) as McHenry
- Inheritance (1967) as David Oldroyd
- Half a Sixpence (1967) as Mr Jones
- Thirty-Minute Theatre (1965) as Muggles
- Public Eye (1965) as Alan Grove
- Thursday Theatre (1964) as Magpie
- The Likely Lads (1964) as Terry Collier
- It's Dark Outside (1964) as Wilfred
- Murder Most Foul (1964) as Bill Hanson
- A Choice of Coward (1964) as Roland Maule
- A Choice of Coward: Present Laughter (1964) as Roland Maule
- For King and Country: Out There (1963) as Herbert Hudd
- The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (1962) as Mike
- H.M.S. Defiant (1962) as Midshipman (uncredited)
- A Kind of Loving (1962) as Jeff
- Drama 61-67 (1961)
- Drama 61-67 (1961) as Nick
- The Kitchen (1961) as Michael
- No Hiding Place (1959)
- Armchair Theatre (1956) as Charlie
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is James Bolam best known for?
James Bolam is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Remembers… (2022), Celebrity Antiques Road Trip (2011), The Last Days of Lehman Brothers (2009), Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (2008).
When and where was James Bolam born?
James Bolam was born on June 16, 1935 in Sunderland, Tyne-and-Wear, England, UK.
How many credits does James Bolam have?
James Bolam has accumulated over 94 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1956 to 2025.
What is James Bolam's background in cinema and television?
James Christopher Bolam is an English actor who was born on June 16, 1935, in Sunderland, Tyne-and-Wear, England, United Kingdom. He is best known for his television roles as Terry Collier in The Likely Lads and its sequel Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?, as well as Jack Ford in When the Boat Comes In and Roy Fig...
James Bolam by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Born and Bred (2002) as Dr. Arthur Gilder — aged about 67
- As You Like It (1978) as Touchstone — aged about 43
- Public Eye (1965) as Alan Grove — aged about 30
- The Beiderbecke Affair (1985) as Trevor Chaplin — aged about 50
- The Plague Dogs (1982) as The Tod (voice) — aged about 47
- Shades of Darkness (1983) as Arthur Frode — aged about 48
What viewers say
No comments yet. Be the first to share your take on James Bolam.