Acting
George A. Cooper
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.
Filmography
The Ties That Bind Us
Film · 2008
Fair Game
Film · 1994
Heartbeat
Series · 1992
Customers From Hell
Film · 1989
Nice Work
Series · 1989
Casualty
Series · 1986
Reunion at Fairborough
Film · 1985
Give Us a Break: Hustle Bustle Toil and Muscle
Film · 1984
Amy
Film · 1984
Red Monarch
Film · 1983
The Star Chamber
Film · 1983
Q.E.D.
Series · 1982
Somewhere More Central
Film · 1981
Terry and June
Series · 1979
Terry and June
Series · 1979
Terry and June
Series · 1979
Turning Year Tales
Series · 1979
The Light Princess
Film · 1978
A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story
Film · 1978
Mr and Mrs Bureaucrat
Film · 1978
Grange Hill
Series · 1978
All Creatures Great and Small
Series · 1978
The Upchat Connection
Series · 1978
BBC2 Play of the Week
Series · 1977
Mind Your Language
Series · 1977
Decorators Limited
Film · 1976
Trial by Combat
Film · 1976
The New Avengers
Series · 1976
Awkward Customers
Film · 1975
Dick Deadeye, or Duty Done
Film · 1975
Dawson's Weekly
Series · 1975
Wonder Woman
Series · 1975
Two's Company
Series · 1975
Shadows
Series · 1975
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
Series · 1973
Billy Liar
Series · 1973
What Became of Jack and Jill?
Film · 1972
The Bouncing Boy
Film · 1972
The Villa Maroc
Film · 1972
Bless This House
Film · 1972
Lifting Safely
Film · 1972
Crown Court
Series · 1972
Sykes
Series · 1972
Office Party
Film · 1971
The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes
Series · 1971
Justice
Series · 1971
Budgie
Series · 1971
Budgie
Series · 1971
Don't Touch Him, He Might Resent It
Film · 1970
Roll On Four O'Clock
Film · 1970
I Can't See My Little Willie
Film · 1970
The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer
Film · 1970
Start the Revolution Without Me
Film · 1970
Doomwatch
Series · 1970
Play for Today
Series · 1970
Play for Today
Series · 1970
Play for Today
Series · 1970
ITV Saturday Night Theatre
Series · 1969
ITV Saturday Night Theatre
Series · 1969
Dracula Has Risen from the Grave
Film · 1968
The Strange Affair
Film · 1968
The First Lady
Series · 1968
The Expert
Series · 1968
The Ronnie Barker Playhouse
Series · 1968
The Confession
Film · 1967
In Two Minds
Film · 1967
Smashing Time
Film · 1967
Man in a Suitcase
Series · 1967
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Series · 1967
ITV Playhouse
Series · 1967
ITV Playhouse
Series · 1967
ITV Playhouse
Series · 1967
Doctor Who: The Smugglers
Film · 1966
King of the River
Series · 1966
Ferry Cross the Mersey
Film · 1965
Life at the Top
Film · 1965
Public Eye
Series · 1965
Public Eye
Series · 1965
Nightmare
Film · 1964
The Bargee
Film · 1964
Sherlock Holmes
Series · 1964
Theatre 625
Series · 1964
Theatre 625
Series · 1964
The Wednesday Play
Series · 1964
The Cracksman
Film · 1963
Tom Jones
Film · 1963
Espionage
Series · 1963
Sergeant Cork
Series · 1963
The Brain
Film · 1962
In the Doghouse
Film · 1962
Z-Cars
Series · 1962
The Saint
Series · 1962
Dr. Finlay's Casebook
Series · 1962
The Saint
Series · 1962
Steptoe and Son
Series · 1962
The Avengers
Series · 1961
The Avengers
Series · 1961
Hell Is a City
Film · 1960
An Age of Kings
Series · 1960
An Age of Kings
Series · 1960
Danger Man
Series · 1960
No Hiding Place
Series · 1959
A Night to Remember
Film · 1958
Violent Playground
Film · 1958
Saturday Playhouse
Series · 1958
Saturday Playhouse
Series · 1958
Saturday Playhouse
Series · 1958
Saturday Playhouse
Series · 1958
The Secret Place
Film · 1957
Fortune Is a Woman
Film · 1957
Miracle in Soho
Film · 1957
Armchair Theatre
Series · 1956
Armchair Theatre
Series · 1956
Armchair Theatre
Series · 1956
Dixon of Dock Green
Series · 1955
Dixon of Dock Green
Series · 1955
Dixon of Dock Green
Series · 1955
The Adventures of Robin Hood
Series · 1955
Okinawa
Film · 1952