James Ellis (actor) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Ellis
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| Born | 15 March 1931 |
| Died | 8 March 2014 (aged 82) Lincoln, England
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| Other names | Jimmy Ellis |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1952–2014 |
| Spouse(s) | Beth Ellis (divorced) Robina Ellis
(m. 1976) |
| Children | 4 |
James Ellis (born March 15, 1931 – died March 8, 2014) was a famous actor and theatre director from Northern Ireland. He worked in acting for over sixty years!
He started his career on stage in his hometown of Belfast. Later, in the early 1960s, he moved to London. He became well-known in Great Britain for his role in the police TV show Z-Cars (1962–78) on BBC1. After that, he appeared in many other TV shows and movies. He was also a translator, which means he could change words from one language to another.
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Early Life and Training
James Ellis was born in Belfast. He went to Methodist College Belfast for school. After that, he studied at Queen's University Belfast and trained to be an actor at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
Acting Career Highlights
James Ellis began acting with the Ulster Group Theatre in Belfast in 1952. He quickly became a lead actor in many plays. Some of his early roles included McFettridge in April in Assagh (1954) and Peter van Daan in The Diary of Anne Frank (1957).
Directing and Controversy
Besides acting, James Ellis also managed the group's summer theatre in Larne, a town near Belfast. He played a big part in staging a play called Over the Bridge by Sam Thompson in 1960. This play was quite controversial.
Ellis had been made the Director of Productions for the Group Theatre in 1958. However, he left this job in 1959. He did this to direct Over the Bridge. Many actors and directors had left the Group Theatre because the board decided not to show the play. They thought it was too strong or "inflammatory."
Moving to London and Z-Cars
Soon after, James Ellis moved from Northern Ireland to London. His first big chance came when he was cast as Dandy Jordan in a BBC TV show called The Randy Dandy in 1961. This play was also seen as controversial. The BBC even gave a warning before it aired, saying it might be "unsuitable for people of a nervous disposition."
His success in The Randy Dandy made him a popular actor. He got more roles with the BBC and ITV. His most famous role was as Bert Lynch in the police series Z-Cars (1962–78). In this show, his character started as a police constable (PC) and worked his way up to Inspector.
James Ellis appeared in an amazing 629 episodes of Z-Cars! This was a record for any actor in a TV detective or police series. The show was so popular that he became a household name during that time. He also appeared in a spin-off show called Softly, Softly in 1967.
Later Television and Film Roles
From 1982, James Ellis played Norman Martin in a series of plays known as the "Billy" trilogy. These were part of the Play for Today series. The plays explored the life of a troubled father.
He also appeared in many other popular TV shows, including:
- Till Death Us Do Part
- Doctor Who
- In Sickness and in Health
- Ballykissangel
- Playing the Field
- One By One
- The comedy show Nightingales, with Robert Lindsay and David Threlfall.
In the 1994 film Priest, James Ellis played Father Ellerton. He also made guest appearances in many well-known series like:
- Boys from the Blackstuff
- Only Fools and Horses
- The Bill
- Casualty
- Boon
- Common as Muck
- Birds of a Feather
- Lovejoy
- Heartbeat
In 2001, James Ellis was featured on the TV show This Is Your Life, where he was surprised by host Michael Aspel.
Other Talents
Beyond acting, James Ellis was also a writer of poems and stories. He was a translator too. The BBC broadcast some of his translations from French in 2007. In 2008, Queen's University Belfast gave him an honorary doctorate. This is a special award that recognizes great achievements.
Personal Life
James Ellis was married twice. His first wife was actress Beth Ellis, and they had three children: Amanda, Adam, and Hugo. They later divorced. In 1976, he married his second wife, Robina, and they had another son named Toto. His son, Hugo, also became an actor and director, following in his father's footsteps.
Death
James Ellis passed away from a stroke on March 8, 2014, in Lincoln. He was 82 years old. He was buried in Castlereagh Presbyterian Churchyard in Belfast.
Legacy
A bridge in East Belfast was named the James Ellis Bridge in his honor. It connects CS Lewis Square and Victoria Park. His widow, Robina, opened the bridge in March 2017, three years after his death.
