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James Hazeldine

James Hazeldine

British actor James Hazeldine was a well-known face both on British Television and on Stage. Best known for his role as Mike "Bayleaf" Wilson in the ITV drama, London's Burning (1988), many real-life firefighters thought Bayleaf was the character who closely and accurately portrayed your average real-life firefighter, a credit to his acting abilities. A meticulous performer, he was well-known for researching every part he played, and firmly believed that by accurately portraying a character the audience would feel much more involved in and enveloped by the performance. He played the role continuously for seven years from the serial's inception in 1988. (The character's sobriquet stemmed from a culinary bent for complex recipes).

In a career spanning three decades, he also guested in such series as 'Boon' and 'Miss Marple', and, in the late 1980s, played the manager of the electrics company in Central's early-evening situation comedy, Young, Gifted and Broke (1989). In 1995, Hazeldine's character was written out of London's Burning of the actor's own volition, but he remained with the programme as a director. In years to come, he expanded his directing talents to encompass other UK drama serials, among them TV's The Knock (1994) and Heartbeat (1992). His acting CV also included sporadic film appearances, such as Pink Floyd: The Wall (1982). Although renowned as a television performer, he was also a respected stage actor, having trained with the Royal Shakespeare Company and, at one time, acted on Broadway alongside Glenda Jackson. He was rehearsing for his role as Sigmund Freud in a new stage play, 'The Talking Cure', when he became ill. In 2002 he appeared in the controversial drama, Shipman, which re-enacted events surrounding the murderous killing spree of Dr Harold Shipman, Britain's most prolific serial killer. Hazeldine assumed the role of Detective Inspector Stan Egerton, the man charged with leading the investigation into the deranged doctor's crimes.

Determined that the dramatization should be as authentic as possible, Hazeldine even met with the retired policeman to ensure a realistic portrayal of the diligent law enforcer. Ironically, while the Shipman drama was in production, the real-life Mr. Egerton died suddenly and prematurely of a coronary disorder. James Hazeldine died on 18 December 2002, aged 55. There will never be anyone quite like him again, British Television mourned the loss of a truly great actor, director and personality.

See more:
Harold Shipman: Doctor Death

Harold Shipman: Doctor Death

2002

as DI Stan Egerton

The Inspector Lynley Mysteries

The Inspector Lynley Mysteries

2002

as Dennis Luxford

Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years

Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years

2001

as Ivan Braithwaite

Hero of the Hour

Hero of the Hour

2000

as D. I. Whelan

The Last Train

The Last Train

1999

as Austin Danforth

The Vice

The Vice

1999

The Grand

The Grand

1997

Midsomer Murders

Midsomer Murders

1997

as Leo Bantock

Emma

Emma

1996

as Mr. Weston

Dalziel & Pascoe

Dalziel & Pascoe

1996

My Friend Walter

My Friend Walter

1992

as Charlie Throckmorton

Heartbeat

Heartbeat

1992

as Reg Manston

Pirate Prince

Pirate Prince

1991

as Jack Prince

A Small Dance

A Small Dance

1991

as Brian Matkin

Close Relations

Close Relations

1990

as Trevor

Young, Gifted And Broke

Young, Gifted And Broke

1989

Streets Apart

Streets Apart

1988

as Bernie Walters

Truckers

Truckers

1987

as Peter Picard

On the Palm

On the Palm

1987

as Mowbray

Inspector Morse

Inspector Morse

1987

as Digby Tuckerman

Business as Usual

Business as Usual

1987

as Mark

Miss Marple: The Murder at the Vicarage

Miss Marple: The Murder at the Vicarage

1986

as Lawrence Redding

Noel's Christmas Presents

Noel's Christmas Presents

1986

London's Burning: The Movie

London's Burning: The Movie

1986

as Michael 'Bayleaf' Wilson

London's Burning

London's Burning

1986

as Mike 'Bayleaf' Wilson

Chocky's Challenge

Chocky's Challenge

1986

as David Gore

Chocky's Challenge

Chocky's Challenge

1986

The Corsican Brothers

The Corsican Brothers

1985

as Vincente Da Franchi

Chocky's Children

Chocky's Children

1985

as David Gore

Miss Marple

Miss Marple

1984

as Lawrence Redding

Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes

1984

as Richard Brunton

Chocky

Chocky

1984

as David Gore

Chocky

Chocky

1984

as David Gore

Macbeth

Macbeth

1983

as Malcolm

One Summer

One Summer

1983

John David

John David

1982

as Patrick

Pink Floyd: The Wall

Pink Floyd: The Wall

1982

as Lover

Exchange and Divide

Exchange and Divide

1980

as Kenneth Carr

The Omega Factor

The Omega Factor

1979

as Tom Crane

Kids

Kids

1979

BBC Television Shakespeare

BBC Television Shakespeare

1978

The Medusa Touch

The Medusa Touch

1978

as Lovelass

Red Shift

Red Shift

1978

as John Fowler

Forgotten Love Songs

Forgotten Love Songs

1978

as Jack

Love on a Gunboat

Love on a Gunboat

1977

as Dennis Horncastle

The Lady of the Camellias

The Lady of the Camellias

1976

as Gaston

Cilla's World Of Comedy

Cilla's World Of Comedy

1976

For Services to Myself

For Services to Myself

1976

as Graham Banks

Stardust

Stardust

1974

as Brian

Sam

Sam

1973

as Frank Barraclough

The National Health

The National Health

1973

Kisses at Fifty

Kisses at Fifty

1973

as Chris

The Ruling Class

The Ruling Class

1972

as Fraser

Nicholas and Alexandra

Nicholas and Alexandra

1971

as Stalin

Everybody Say Cheese

Everybody Say Cheese

1971

as George Green

Ride, Ride

Ride, Ride

1970

as Gerald

The Long Distance Piano Player

The Long Distance Piano Player

1970

as Alf

Play for Today

Play for Today

1970

as Patrick

Play for Today

Play for Today

1970

as Chris

Sovereign's Company

Sovereign's Company

1970

as Dawkins

The Main Chance

The Main Chance

1969

as Staff Sgt. Timson

BBC Play of the Month

BBC Play of the Month

1965

Horizon

Horizon

1964

as Self

Hallmark Hall of Fame

Hallmark Hall of Fame

1951

as Vincente de Franchi