George A. Cooper
Acting
George Alphonsus Cooper was born in Leeds in 1925. After training as an electrical engineer and architect he was called up for National Service, working for the Royal Artillery in India. During that period he became interested in performing and on his discharge joined Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop in Manchester. To avoid confusion with American actor George Cooper he used his middle initial in his stage name. His first appearance on television was in 1946. Over the next fifty years, he was a regular on the screen developing a career out of portraying slightly bumbling authoritarian characters. In 1964, he won a recurring role in ITV's Coronation Street playing businessman Willie Piggott who famously tried to bribe Ken Barlow to give his son Brian a pass on his tech exam. He had regular roles in Z-Cars and Dixon of Dock Green. In 1960, he appeared in the West End play Billy Liar playing the father of the title character, later reprising the role in the 1973 television series. He appeared in comedies such as Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em, Sykes and Mind Your Language. In 1985, he took on the role of no-nonsense caretaker Eric Griffiths in the incredibly successful children's drama Grange Hill, playing the role for seven years and earning a place in the hearts of a generation of children. His last TV appearance was in a 1995 episode of Casualty. He died in a nursing home in Hampshire on 16th November, 2018.
Known for
Acting95
movieThe Ties That Bind Us
2008
Cherub (archive footage)
movieFair Game
1994
George
tvHeartbeat
1992
Walter Pettigrew
tvNice Work
1989
Mr. Wilcox Snr
tvCasualty
1986
Albert Collins
movieReunion at Fairborough
1985
Bartender
movieAmy
1984
Will Johnson
movieThe Star Chamber
1983
State Senator Walden
movieRed Monarch
1983
Kaganovitch
tvQ.E.D.
1982
Lord Eastleigh
movieSomewhere More Central
1981
Uncle Joe
tvTerry and June
1979
Mr. Ridge / Uncle Bob / Eric
tvGrange Hill
1978
Mr. Griffiths
tvAll Creatures Great and Small
1978
Mr. Crump
tvMind Your Language
1977
Mr Short
tvThe New Avengers
1976
Burt Brandon
movieTrial by Combat
1976
2nd Leather Jerkin
movieDick Deadeye, or Duty Done
1975
The Pirate King (voice)
movieAwkward Customers
1975
Awkward Customer: Mr. Wart-hog
tvWonder Woman
1975
Gen. Clewes
tvTwo's Company
1975
Mr. Begley
tvShadows
1975
Higgs
movieThe Bouncing Boy
1972
Ashcroft
tvSykes
1972
Arthur Coats
movieBless This House
1972
Mr. Wilson
movieThe Villa Maroc
1972
Lionel
tvJustice
1971
Supt. George Grover
tvThe Rivals of Sherlock Holmes
1971
Inspector Beedel
movieOffice Party
1971
Manager
tvBudgie
1971
Det. Inspector Shepherd / Inspector Shepherd
movieRoll On Four O'Clock
1970
Ted Crampton
movieI Can't See My Little Willie
1970
Frank Palmer
tvPlay for Today
1970
Ashcroft / Frank Palmer / Lionel
tvDoomwatch
1970
Thomas Prentice
tvITV Saturday Night Theatre
1969
Ted Crampton / Bert Clarke
movieDracula Has Risen from the Grave
1968
Village Landlord
movieThe Strange Affair
1968
Supt. Kingsley
tvThe Expert
1968
Arnold Bottomley
movieSmashing Time
1967
Irishman
The Confession
1967
Albert Verdoni
tvITV Playhouse
1967
Albert Verdoni / Mr. Tundish / Grimston
movieIn Two Minds
1967
Mr. Winter
tvSir Arthur Conan Doyle
1967
Mr. Fawcett
King of the River
1966
Reverend Ackroyd
movieLife at the Top
1965
Graffham
movieFerry Cross the Mersey
1965
Mr. Lumsden
tvPublic Eye
1965
Alec Payton
tvThe Wednesday Play
1964
Mr. Winter
tvTheatre 625
1964
Arkwright / Governor
movieThe Bargee
1964
Official in Office
tvEspionage
1963
Leo Winters
movieTom Jones
1963
Mr. Fitzpatrick
tvThe Saint
1962
Harold Laker / Milton Ourley
movieThe Brain
1962
Thomas Gabler
tvDr. Finlay's Casebook
1962
Tom Farquhar
movieIn the Doghouse
1962
Examiner (Uncredited)
tvThe Avengers
1961
Burgess / Maxwell Barker
tvDanger Man
1960
Blatta
tvAn Age of Kings
1960
Earl of Northumberland / Ancient Pistol
movieHell Is a City
1960
Doug Savage
movieA Night to Remember
1958
Carpathia Purser Hughes (uncredited)
movieViolent Playground
1958
Chief Inspector
Saturday Playhouse
1958
George Day / Bob Sanders / Mr. Jackson / Inspector Fitchitt
movieMiracle in Soho
1957
Foreman
movieFortune Is a Woman
1957
Hotel Porter
tvArmchair Theatre
1956
Vincenzo Galassi / Dennis Fleming / Manager
tvDixon of Dock Green
1955
Topper Brown / Jackson / Monty Pitman
movieOkinawa
1952
Yeoman