James Bolam
Acting Born Jun 16, 1935 Sunderland, Tyne-and-Wear, England, UK 94 credits
Biography
James Christopher Bolam is an English actor. He is recognized for his contributions to television, most notably for his portrayals of the character Terry Collier. He appeared in this role in the series The Likely Lads and its subsequent sequel, Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? These performances remain the most prominent examples of his work in the medium. As a professional actor, he has established a career within the English television industry through these specific long-standing roles. His body of work is defined by his involvement in these productions, which serve as the primary basis for his public recognition as a performer.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
A Memory Owed
Remembers…Marriage
Wartime Christmas
British Sitcom: 60 Years of Laughing at Ourselves
Unconditional
Celebrity Antiques Road TripTentboy
Grandpa in My PocketThe Last Days of Lehman Brothers
Celebration
The Plot Against Harold Wilson
New TricksHe Knew He Was Right
The Afternoon PlayTo Kill a King
Born and BredHarold Shipman: Doctor Death
Close and TruePay and DisplayIt Was an AccidentVictoria Wood with All the TrimmingsDirty Tricks
The End of the Affair
The Alex Ferguson StoryThe Stalker's Apprentice
Midsomer MurdersThe Island on Bird StreetStella Does TricksThe Missing PostmanThe Missing Postman
Eleven Men Against ElevenClockwork Mice
Second Thoughts
Sticky Wickets
Screen OneCommunicators From Hell
Andy CappThe Beiderbecke Connection
The Beiderbecke Tapes
Room at the Bottom
The Beiderbecke Affair
Shades of DarknessITV Christmas ComedyThe MazeClash of LoyaltiesMacbeth
The Plague Dogs
Only When I Laugh
Armchair ThrillerThe BBC Television ShakespeareAs You Like ItThe Limbo Connection
When the Boat Comes InThe Likely Lads
In CelebrationThe Philanthropist
Full filmography
- 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