John Nicholas Ball (11 April 1946 – 4 June 2024) was an English actor. He was best known for playing the title role of private detective James Hazell in the television series Hazell between 1978-1979.
Nicholas Ball | |
|---|---|
 Ball in 2008 | |
| Born | John Nicholas Ball 11 April 1946 Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England |
| Died | 4 June 2024 (aged 78) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1967–2024 |
| Spouse |
Ayda Kay (m. 2019) |
Ball portrayed the vicious gang lord Terry Bates in EastEnders between 2007 and 2009. He played Garry Ryan in series five of Footballers' Wives and both series of its spin-off programme Footballers' Wives: Extra Time.
He had played a number of supporting roles in various television series including Z-Cars, Mr. Rose, The Gold Robbers, Softly Softly: Task Force, The Crezz, The Young Ones, Bergerac, Spooky, Tales of the Unexpected, Boon, Colin's Sandwich, Red Dwarf, The Governor, The Bill, Pie in the Sky, Heartbeat, Jonathan Creek, Cold Feet, New Tricks, The Commander, Casualty, Hustle, Holby City and Doctors.
The voice of Nicholas Ball can be heard as well on various audio books offered via the internet; he has narrated books from such authors as Christopher Hitchens and James Maybrick. In 2019 he appeared in an advert for Premier Inn, playing the part of Lenny Henry's manager.
Personal life
editBall was born in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, and raised in Hastings, Sussex, and trained to be an actor at Bristol Old Vic.[1]
Ball was married to actress and psychologist, Pamela Stephenson from 1978 until they divorced in 1984, when she left him for the comedian Billy Connolly.[2][3] He later married his long-term partner, actress Ayda Kay, in 2019.[4]
Selected Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Z-Cars | Despatch Rider | Episode: "The Punch-Up - Part 2" |
| Mr. Rose | Francis | Episode: "Free and Easy" | |
| 1969 | The Gold Robbers | Terry Craddock | 3 episodes |
| 1970 | Coronation Street | Spider Smart | 1 episode |
| The Black Tulip | Captain Tilley | 3 episodes | |
| From a Bird's Eye View | Jack Desmond | Episode: "Nobody Sleeps on a Honeymoon" | |
| 1971 | Jamie | Edward Bruce | Episode: "Ettercap" |
| 1975 | Overlord | Arthur | Film |
| Softly, Softly: Task Force | Andrews | Episode: "Protection" | |
| 1976 | BBC Play of the Week | James Vane | Story: "The Picture of Dorian Gray" |
| The Crezz | Colin Pitman | 5 episodes | |
| Rogue Male | 2nd Seaman | TV movie | |
| Play for Today | PC Wilding | Story: "A Story to Frighten the Children" | |
| 1978 | Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe? | Skeffington | Film |
| 1978 -
1979 |
Hazell | James Hazell | 22 episodes |
| 1980 | Play for Today | John Arnott | Story: "Thicker Than Water" |
| Hammer House of Horror | William | Story: "The House that Bled to Death" | |
| 1981 | Play for Today | Terry | Story: "Sorry" |
| 1982 | The Young Ones | Dr. Jim Morrison | Episode: "Interesting" |
| 1983 | Who Cares Wins - The Key to Success | Salesman | Austin Rover staff training video |
| Bergerac | Hardaker | Episode: "A Miracle Every Week" | |
| Spooky | Danny Roberts | Story: "The Danny Roberts Show" | |
| 1985 | Lifeforce | Derebridge | Film |
| 1988 | Bergerac | Gravel Beresford | Episode: "Retirement Plan" |
| Tales of the Unexpected | Ken Johnson | Story: "The Dead Don't Steal" | |
| 1989 | Boon | Gerry Anscomb | Episode: "Walking Off Air" |
| 1990 | Colin's Sandwich | Alan Hunter | 3 episodes |
| 1991 | Red Dwarf | Simulant | Episode: "Justice" |
| El C.I.D. | Brian | Episode: "In the Rough" | |
| 1995 | The Governor | Edward Maynard | 1 episode |
| 1996 | The Bill | Jim Brodie | Episode: "Judgement Call" |
| Pie in the Sky | DCI Doggett | Episode: "Doggett's Coat and Badge" | |
| 1997 | The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous | Larry Lockton | 3 episodes (mini-series) |
| Heartbeat | Charlie Fenton | Episode: "The Family Way" | |
| The Famous Five | Tiger Dan | Episode: "Five Go Off in a Caravan" | |
| 1998 | Croupier | Jack Snr. | Film |
| 1999 | Jonathan Creek | Vince Rees | Episode: "Miracle in Crooked Lane" |
| 2000 | Cold Feet | Felix Bishop | 3 episodes |
| 2004 | The Courtroom | Philip Catlow | Episode: "Slaves and Donkeys" |
| 2005 | New Tricks | Webb | Episode: "Trust Me" |
| 2005 | The Commander | John Dawson | 2 episodes |
| 2005 -
2006 |
Footballers' Wives: Extra Time | Garry Ryan | 14 episodes |
| 2006 | Footballers' Wives | 6 episodes | |
| 2007 | Heartbeat | Gregory Flambard | Episode: "Mind Games" |
| Casualty | Michael Shapiro | Episode: "Fish Out of Water" | |
| 2007 -
2009 |
EastEnders | Terry | 15 episodes |
| 2008 | Sisterhood | Jack | Film |
| 2009 | Hustle | Frank Rice | Episode: "Diamond Seeker" |
| 2009 | Dead Man Running | Fight Bookie | Film |
| 2011 | Casualty | Frank Fonteyne | Episode: "When the Bough Breaks..." |
| 2015 | Holby City | Barry Copeland | 2 episodes |
| 2018 | The Krays: Dead Man Walking | Harry Webster | Film |
| 2020 | Doctors | Harold 'Aitch' Snetterton | Episode: "Bye-Bye, Mr Kippy" |
| 2024 | The Kingdom by the Sea | Ray | Film (final role) |
References
edit- ^ Hayward, Anthony (11 June 2024). "Nicholas Ball obituary". The Guardian.
- ^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Archived from the original on 13 January 2022. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
- ^ Milsom, Rosemarie (10 November 2012). "Pamela Stephenson's unflinching autobiography". Newcastle Herald. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
- ^ Hayward, Anthony (11 June 2024). "Nicholas Ball obituary". The Guardian.
- ^ Hayward, Anthony (11 June 2024). "Nicholas Ball obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "EastEnders actor Nicholas Ball dies aged 78". ITVX. Archived from the original on 6 June 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ "EastEnders star Nicholas Ball has died aged 78, his agent has announced". Times Series. 6 June 2024. Archived from the original on 6 June 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
External links
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