Graham Cole

Graham Cole OBE (born Graham Coleman-Smith on 16 March 1952) is an English actor.

Graham Cole

OBE
Cole at the 3rd Norwich Sci-Fi Film, Comic, Toy & Collectors Fair on 1 November 2009.
Born
Graham Coleman-Smith

(1952-03-16) 16 March 1952
Willesden, London, England, UK
OccupationActor
Years active1979–present
Spouse(s)Cherry Coleman-Smith (1983–present)
ChildrenMatthew Coleman-Smith
Laura Coleman-Smith

Career

He is best known as PC Tony Stamp in the ITV police drama The Bill, a role he played initially as a recurring character from 1984, and then as a regular from 1988 until 2009.[1] Cole appeared in more episodes of the programme than any other actor. He had previously spent 12 years in Repertory Theatre, and musicals.

He appeared in numerous episodes of Doctor Who in the early 1980s, often in uncredited roles, such as Marshman and Cyberman. He has also played Melkur in The Keeper of Traken and finally a Jacondan in The Twin Dilemma. He also made a guest appearance in the final series of Sooty and Co as a detective called Maurice in the episode "Delgrub".

He presented and narrated the police video programme Police Stop!. He appeared regularly on Noel's House Party in sketches with Andrew Paul. Cole was gunged on the show, which was arranged by his mother-in-law. He has also made a guest appearance in ITV series Law & Order: UK as a barman in one episode.

Cole in costume after appearing in a pantomime in Lichfield in 2015

Cole is a singer. In his early career Graham appeared as the Emperor of China in a record-breaking 1978/79 season of Aladdin at the Grand Theatre in Swansea. Other pantomime appearances have included the role of "Beast" in Beauty & The Beast at the Woodville Halls in Gravesend, Kent. To date he has appeared in 36 pantomimes. He played Scrooge to critical acclaim at Garrick Theatre Lichfield in 2012 and Abanazer for Theater Royal Norwich, 2013-2014. He Played General Waverley In Irving Berlin's White Christmas at The Festival Theatre Edinburgh.

He then returned to the role in 2015/16 to record breaking houses at The Dominion Theatre London.

He was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1997 when he was surprised by Michael Aspel.[2]

Personal life

Cole is a member of the showbusiness charity the Grand Order of Water Rats and held the title King Rat in 2009. He is President of the National Holiday Fund, which takes sick and disabled children to Disney World in Florida. He has been a patron of ChildLine for over 25 years and is the president of Greater London South East Scout County.

Cole supports emergency service charities with his patronage. He is a patron of the Orphans' Gift Fund South East London Boroughs of the Constables Branch Board of the Metropolitan Police and of the charity PTSD999. He is a Voluntary Police Cadets ambassador.

Cole was awarded an OBE in 2010 for his continuing work with charities.

Filmography

  • Holby City (30th January 2018) - Larry O'Shea[3]
  • Doctors (2015) - Callum Jenkins
  • Law & Order: UK (2014) - Barman
  • Evil Never Dies (2014) - Inspector Bracken
  • Derelict (2010 film) (2010) – Tarsus
  • The Bill (1984-2009) - PC Tony Stamp
  • TV Burp (2009) – PC Tony Stamp
  • The Dame Edna Treatment (2007) – PC Tony Stamp
  • The Bill @ 21 (2004) – PC Tony Stamp
  • Lily Savage's Blankety Blank (2001) - Himself[4]
  • Noel's House Party (1998) – Man at Door
  • The Usual Children (1997) – Dad/Mustdad
  • The Bill: Target (1996) – PC Tony Stamp
  • Accident in Park Road (1988) – Man
  • Casualty (1986) – Junior Doctor
  • Doctor Who (1980-1984) – Cyberman / Melkur / Marshman
  • Tucker's Luck (1984) – 2nd Policeman
  • Only Fools and Horses (1982) – Customs Officer
  • The Gentle Touch (1982) – Detective
  • Blake's 7 (1981) – Federation Trooper / Gerren's Associate
  • Kessler (1981) – Hotel surveillance man
  • Secret Army (1979) – German soldier in café / Guerilla
  • The Canal Children (1976) – Mick Murphy

References

  1. "A Quick Chat with Graham Cole". United Kingdom: TV Quick. 27 October 2009. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
  2. "Graham Cole". Bigredbook.info. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  3. "BBC One - Holby City, Series 20, There by the Grace of..." Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  4. "ITV Series 1, Episode 4". Lily Savage's Blankety Blank. 28 January 2001. ITV. Repeated 23 August 2016 on Challenge TV.

Media related to Graham Cole at Wikimedia Commons

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