George Cole
Biography
George Cole was an English actor whose performing career lasted 75 years, best remembered for playing Arthur Daley in the ITV comedy-drama Minder and for Flash Harry in the early St Trinian's comedies. Born in Tooting, South London, he left school at 14 to work as a butcher's boy before a part in a touring musical turned him toward acting. At 15 he was cast in Cottage to Let opposite Alastair Sim, who became his mentor and helped rid him of his Cockney accent. He appeared opposite Laurence Olivier in The Demi-Paradise and Henry V (1944), played the young Scrooge in Scrooge (1951), and starred in Take Me High (1973) with Cliff Richard. He played Arthur Daley in Minder from 1979 to 1994, led the radio comedy A Life of Bliss as the bumbling bachelor David Alexander Bliss, and appeared as Mipps in The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh (1963).
90years old at death
- Born Tooting
- Died Reading
- Star sign: TaurusThe sign runs April 20 to May 20
- Also credited as George Edward Cole
Movie Career
- Films
- 16
- Career span
- 52 years1944 to 1996
Genres
First and latest
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A first
George Cole acted with Laurence Olivier in The Demi-Paradise (1943) and in Olivier's film version of Henry V (1944), and he was the last surviving cast member of that film.
A change of course
Cole was temporarily a radio operator in the Royal Air Force during his national service from 1944 to 1947, which interrupted his acting career.
Beyond film
On the BBC children's program Jackanory, Cole served as a storyteller, narrating across six episodes shown between 1969 and 1971.
George Cole movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Frank Launder directed four of these films. Two actors appear in four of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Alastair Sim's page
Joyce Grenfell's page
Ernest Thesiger's page
Lloyd Lamble's page
Michael Hordern's page
Elizabeth Taylor's page
Frank LaunderDirector, 4 films, 1954 to 1966
All films by Frank Launder
Also two films together11 more actors
- Ferdy MayneThe Vampire Lovers (1970) and Blue Murder at St. Trinian's (1957)
- Richard WattisThe Great St Trinian's Train Robbery (1966) and The Belles of St Trinian's (1954)
- Raymond HuntleyThe Great St Trinian's Train Robbery (1966) and The Pure Hell of St Trinian's (1960)
- Thorley WaltersThe Pure Hell of St Trinian's (1960) and Blue Murder at St. Trinian's (1957)
- Irene HandlThe Pure Hell of St Trinian's (1960) and The Belles of St Trinian's (1954)
- Hermione BaddeleyThe Belles of St Trinian's (1954) and Scrooge (1951)
- Cyril ChamberlainThe Great St Trinian's Train Robbery (1966) and Blue Murder at St. Trinian's (1957)
- Esmond KnightGone to Earth (1950) and Henry V (1944)
- Eric BarkerThe Great St Trinian's Train Robbery (1966) and The Pure Hell of St Trinian's (1960)
- Terry ScottThe Great St Trinian's Train Robbery (1966) and Blue Murder at St. Trinian's (1957)
- Guy MiddletonThe Belles of St Trinian's (1954) and Laughter in Paradise (1951)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Awards
One award and honor.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| Officer of the Order of the British Empire | Won | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.