Name
James Hazeldine
Known For
Acting
Birthday
1947-04-04
Deathday
2002-12-17 (55 years old)
Place of Birth
Salford, Lancashire, England
Biography
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.
Known For
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- 1980 Exchange and Divide as Kenneth Carr
- 1982 Pink Floyd: The Wall as Lover
- 1996 Emma as Mr. Weston
- 1971 Nicholas and Alexandra as Stalin
- 1985 Chocky's Children as David Gore
- 1986 Chocky's Challenge as David Gore
- 1984 Chocky as David Gore
- 1991 A Small Dance as Brian Matkin
- 1990 Close Relations as Trevor
- 1985 The Corsican Brothers as Vincente Da Franchi
- 1986 London's Burning: The Movie as Michael 'Bayleaf' Wilson
- 1970 The Long Distance Piano Player as Alf
- 1978 Red Shift as John Fowler
- 1973 Kisses at Fifty as Chris
- 2002 Harold Shipman: Doctor Death as DI Stan Egerton
- 1987 Business as Usual as Mark
- 1991 Pirate Prince as Jack Prince
- 1972 The Ruling Class as Fraser
- 1970 Sovereign's Company as Dawkins
- 1970 Ride, Ride as Gerald
- 1973 The National Health as Student Doctor
- 2000 Hero of the Hour as D. I. Whelan
- 1986 Miss Marple: The Murder at the Vicarage as Lawrence Redding
- 1976 The Lady of the Camellias as Gaston
- 1974 Stardust as Brian
- 1976 For Services to Myself as Graham Banks
- 1971 Everybody Say Cheese as George Green
- 1983 Macbeth as Malcolm
- 1992 My Friend Walter as Charlie Throckmorton
- 1978 The Medusa Touch as Lovelass
- 1982 John David as Patrick
- 1977 Love on a Gunboat as Dennis Horncastle
- 1987 On the Palm as Mowbray
- 1978 Forgotten Love Songs as Jack
- 1980 The Circe Complex as Dave
- 1994 The Fireboy as Dad
- 1976 The Chester Mystery Plays
- 1997 Midsomer Murders ( 1 episode ) as Leo Bantock
- 1999 The Last Train ( 6 episodes ) as Austin Danforth
- 2002 The Inspector Lynley Mysteries ( 1 episode ) as Dennis Luxford
- 1979 The Omega Factor ( 10 episodes ) as Tom Crane
- 1992 Heartbeat ( 1 episode ) as Reg Manston
- 1987 Inspector Morse ( 1 episode ) as Digby Tuckerman
- 1984 Sherlock Holmes ( 1 episode ) as Richard Brunton
- 1951 Hallmark Hall of Fame ( 1 episode ) as Vincente de Franchi
- 1970 Play for Today ( 2 episodes ) as Patrick
- 1965 BBC Play of the Month ( 1 episode )
- 1979 Kids ( 13 episodes ) as Chris Langley
- 1988 Streets Apart ( 12 episodes ) as Bernie Walters
- 1986 Chocky's Challenge ( 6 episodes ) as David Gore
- 2001 Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years ( 6 episodes ) as Ivan Braithwaite
- 1976 Cilla's World Of Comedy ( 1 episode )
- 1989 Young, Gifted And Broke ( 7 episodes )
- 1970 Play for Today ( 1 episode ) as Chris
- 1969 The Main Chance ( 1 episode ) as Staff Sgt. Timson
- 1987 Truckers ( 8 episodes ) as Peter Picard
- 1973 Sam ( 39 episodes ) as Frank Barraclough
- 1964 Horizon ( 1 episode ) as Self
- 1986 Noel's Christmas Presents ( 1 episode )
- 1986 London's Burning ( 83 episodes ) as Mike 'Bayleaf' Wilson
- 1965 BBC Play of the Month ( 1 episode ) as Jimmy Porter
- 1977 BBC2 Play of the Week ( 1 episode ) as Jack
- 1986 Worlds Beyond ( 1 episode ) as DI Craig
- 1997 The Grand ( 1 episode ) as Mr Morris
- 1983 One Summer ( 4 episodes ) as Kidder
- 1999 The Vice ( 2 episodes ) as Paul Mason
- 1969 ITV Saturday Night Theatre ( 1 episode ) as Peter Drew
- 1972 New Scotland Yard ( 1 episode ) as Colin Guest
- 1976 Red Letter Day ( 1 episode ) as Graham Banks
- 1970 Tales of Unease ( 1 episode ) as Gerald
- 1985 Screen Two ( 1 episode ) as Trevor
- 1979 Murder at the Wedding ( 4 episodes ) as Mike Fulmer
- 1984 Chocky ( 6 episodes ) as David Gore
- 1986 The Return of Sherlock Holmes ( 1 episode ) as Richard Brunton
