James Ottaway

William Cecil James Ottaway (25 July 1908 – 16 June 1999) was a British film, television and stage actor whose career spanned seven decades.

Later in 1937 Tyrone Guthrie, the director of The Old Vic, cast Ottaway as a Messenger alongside a young Laurence Olivier in the title role in Macbeth.

Ambrose Wistons in The Cathedral (1952); Sunday Night Theatre (1952); Bates in The Commonplace Heart (1953); Dr Pennington in Emergency – Ward 10 (1958); Second Doctor in The Blood Donor episode of Hancock's Half Hour (1961); Dr Cranston in The Saint (1963); Mr Roberts/Allan in No Hiding Place (1960-1965); Mr Martin/Frank Meek in Dixon of Dock Green (1956-1969); Thomas Anthem in The Fellows (Late of Room 17) (1967); Scrophulus in Up Pompeii!

(1970); Mr. Stone, in the 'Ride, Ride' episode of Tales of Unease, (1970); Member of Parliament in Dad's Army (1972); Thompson in Softly, Softly: Taskforce (1973); Bill Chadwick in Follyfoot (1973); Maxie in The Changes (1975); Jack King in Z-Cars (1977); Uncle Billy in The Sweeney (1978); Dick Fawcett/Pub Customer in All Creatures Great and Small (1978-1988); Arthur in Quatermass (1979); George Taylor in The Gentle Touch (1980-1984); Percy/Vickery in Minder (1980-1991); Reverend Fulljames in Hi-de-Hi!

[1] Ottaway first met his wife Anne Pichon when they were both members of the St Pancras People's Theatre, but they did not marry until 1965 after meeting again later in life.