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James Bolam - is a Sunderland Lad

Posted: 26 Mar 2015, 15:23
by Jackal
James Bolam - is a Sunderland Lad

James Christopher Bolam was born in Sunderland on the 16th June 1935. He went to Bede Grammar School in Sunderland. He trained to be an actor in London and started his TV appearance in the early 1960's.

James Bolam has been in so many programmes on the television. Here are just a few:
When the Boat Comes In (Jack Ford), The Beiderbecke Trilogy (Trevor Chaplin), The Likely Lads and its sequel Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? (Terry Collier), Only When I Laugh (Roy Figgis_, Born and Bred (Dr Arthur Gilder), New Tricks (Jack Halford).

He also played Grandpa in the children's show, Grandpa in My Pocket.

James Bolam also made a Likely Lads film in 1975 and his "friend" in those shows, Rodney Bewes, revealed in 2005 that they never spoke since making them :o

He has played many other different parts including Harold Wilson in the BBC documentary The Plot Against Harold Wilson.

Despite his age Bolam still does the theatre and in 2014 he appeared in the play "Bomber's Moon" by William Ivory at the Park Theatre, Finsbury Park, London.

What an actor and what a career from the Sunderland lad!

As a young kid:
Image

After he quit "New Tricks":
Image

Here is James Bolam in a complete "Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads" show "Strangers On A Train".

Re: James Bolam - is a Sunderland Lad

Posted: 26 Mar 2015, 17:57
by cam
Still working as well :shock:

Re: James Bolam - is a Sunderland Lad

Posted: 27 Mar 2015, 13:40
by Bystander
cam wrote:Still working as well :shock:
Yes, good actors like James Bolam will continue acting until the end.
I remember him well in When The Boat Comes In and of course the Likely Lads.
I am surprised to see that the two characters from the Likely Lads have not spoken since the mid seventies.
Maybe that's why we never saw any more programmes made.
Something like the two characters in that show had the potential to continue for ever until they died.

Re: James Bolam - is a Sunderland Lad

Posted: 30 Mar 2015, 07:31
by Real Sun
James Bolam is definitely a Sunderland hero.

Re: James Bolam - is a Sunderland Lad

Posted: 19 Apr 2015, 11:48
by Roker Joker
I saw James Bolam on an old programme the other night.
I can't remember what they called it but he is a good actor and Sunderland should honour him if they haven't already.

Re: James Bolam - is a Sunderland Lad

Posted: 14 Sep 2015, 18:27
by Light Brigade
James Bolam is a canny lad alright.

Re: James Bolam - is a Sunderland Lad

Posted: 17 Sep 2015, 11:33
by monty
I remember James Bolam in "When The Boat Comes In". I think he does a children's programme now called "Grandpa In My Pocket" .... he still has it in him to act then. When an actor can go on this long then he must be good. Oh yes and played his part in "New Tricks" very well with Dennis Waterman and such.

Re: James Bolam - is a Sunderland Lad

Posted: 18 Sep 2015, 15:10
by Moony
James Bolam went to Bede School, just saying like in case anyone wants to name drop in that way :lol:

Re: James Bolam - is a Sunderland Lad

Posted: 22 Sep 2015, 16:28
by Gambling Man
He has endurance I will give him that,

Re: James Bolam - is a Sunderland Lad

Posted: 30 Sep 2015, 11:38
by Bystander
Gambling Man wrote:He has endurance I will give him that,
I don't think you can tie a good actor down to be honest.