Colin Welland

Biography

Colin Welland was an English actor and screenwriter who began his stage career at Manchester Library Theatre, working as an actor and an assistant stage manager, and then took the part of PC David Graham in Z-Cars, a BBC series, between 1962 and 1965. He won a BAFTA for best supporting actor as the schoolteacher Mr Farthing in Kes (1969), and his film work included a detective in Villain (1971), a vicar in Straw Dogs (1971) and Frank Chadwick, a newspaper editor, in Sweeney! (1977). His other appearances included Dennis Potter's Blue Remembered Hills (1979) and Dancin' Thru the Dark (1990). His writing included the Granada play Roll on Four O'Clock (1970), Yanks (1979) and Twice in a Lifetime (1985), and he won the Academy Award in the original screenplay category for Chariots of Fire (1981). Welland died in 2015.

81years old at death

Born July 4, 1934Liverpool
Died November 2, 2015London
Star sign: CancerThe sign runs June 21 to July 22
Colin Edward Williams (birth name)Also credited as Colin Williams

Movie Career

Films: 4
Career span: 21 years1969 to 1990

Every film, newest first

1990The Secret Life of Ian FlemingIMDb rating 6.2
1977Sweeney!IMDb rating 6.7
1971Straw DogsIMDb rating 7.4
1969KesIMDb rating 7.9

Genres

Did you know?!

Behind the award
At the 1982 Academy Awards, Welland took home Best Original Screenplay for Chariots of Fire (1981). His acceptance speech featured the phrase "The British are coming!"
First role
Welland started out in the theater, working at Manchester Library Theatre as both an actor and an assistant stage manager.
A change of course
Welland qualified as a teacher and taught art at Manchester Road Secondary Modern school in Leigh before turning to acting.

Colin Welland movies on Netflix

The Secret Life of Ian Fleming1990IMDb rating 6.2as Reuters editor
Sweeney!1977IMDb rating 6.7as Frank Chadwick
Straw Dogs1971IMDb rating 7.4as Rev. Barney Hood
Kes1969IMDb rating 7.9as Mr. Farthing

Worked with

Colin Welland shares two films with David Warner, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

David Warner

Brian Glover

Dustin Hoffman

Joss Ackland

Kristin Scott Thomas

Peter Vaughan

Sam PeckinpahDirector, 1 film

Ken LoachDirector, 1 film David WickesDirector, 1 film

Films together

David Warner2 films together, 1971 to 1990
David Warner's page
- The Secret Life of Ian Fleming1990IMDb rating 6.2Welland as Reuters editorWarner as Adm. Godfrey
- Straw Dogs1971IMDb rating 7.4Welland as Rev. Barney HoodWarner as Henry Niles
Brian Glover2 films together, 1969 to 1977
Brian Glover's page
- Sweeney!1977IMDb rating 6.7Welland as Frank ChadwickGlover as Mac
- Kes1969IMDb rating 7.9Welland as Mr. FarthingGlover as Mr. Sugden
Dustin Hoffman1 film together, 1971
Dustin Hoffman's page
- Straw Dogs1971IMDb rating 7.4Welland as Rev. Barney HoodHoffman as David Sumner
Joss Ackland1 film together, 1990
Joss Ackland's page
- The Secret Life of Ian Fleming1990IMDb rating 6.2Welland as Reuters editorAckland as Gen. Gerhard Hellstein
Kristin Scott Thomas1 film together, 1990
Kristin Scott Thomas's page
- The Secret Life of Ian Fleming1990IMDb rating 6.2Welland as Reuters editorThomas as Leda St Gabriel
Peter Vaughan1 film together, 1971
Peter Vaughan's page
- Straw Dogs1971IMDb rating 7.4Welland as Rev. Barney HoodVaughan as Tom Hedden
Sam PeckinpahDirector, 1 film, 1971
All films by Sam Peckinpah
- Straw Dogs1971IMDb rating 7.4Welland as Rev. Barney Hood
Ken LoachDirector, 1 film, 1969
All films by Ken Loach
- Kes1969IMDb rating 7.9Welland as Mr. Farthing
David WickesDirector, 1 film, 1977
All films by David Wickes
- Sweeney!1977IMDb rating 6.7Welland as Frank Chadwick

Awards

Two awards and honors from 1971 to 1982, two of them major.

Top

Colin Welland's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Film	Result
Academy Awards
1982	Best Writing, Original Screenplay	Chariots of Fire	Won
BAFTA
1971	Best Actor in a Supporting Role	Kes	Won

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

Top