Nicholas Ball (actor)
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(s) |
, Ayda Kay (m. 2019) |
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 and 1979.
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
Ball was born in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, and raised in Hastings, Sussex. He trained to be an actor at Bristol Old Vic.[1]
Ball was married to actress and psychologist, Pamela Stephenson from 1978 until their divorce 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]
Ball died on 4 June 2024, at the age of 78.[5][6][7]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Overlord | Arthur | |
| 1978 | Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe? | Skeffington | UK title: Too Many Chefs |
| 1985 | Lifeforce | Derebridge | |
| Running Out of Luck | (unknown) | ||
| Claudia | Howard | ||
| 1989 | Casino | Julien | Short film |
| 1994 | Perfect Gift | Sheffield | |
| 1998 | Croupier | Jack Snr. | |
| 1999 | The Manor | Sir Everett Blake | |
| 2000 | Out of Depth | Lenny | |
| 2002 | Championship | George | Short film |
| Top Dog | Ray King | Short film | |
| 2004 | Hellboy | Russian General | Director's Cut DVD. Uncredited role |
| 2008 | Mutant Chronicles | Plutocrat | |
| Sisterhood | Jack | ||
| 2009 | Dead Man Running | Fight Bookie | |
| 2011 | Peter | Martin Clement | |
| Enchantress | Merlin | ||
| 2012 | Fifteen | Mr. Allen | Also associate producer |
| 2013 | Nightmare Box | Man | |
| 2015 | Surgery | The Crude Surgeon | Short film |
| 2018 | The Krays: Dead Man Walking | Harry Webster | |
| 2019 | Muse | Mr. Williams | |
| Whatever Became of Richard Blaine? | Richard | Short film | |
| Pentagram | Mr. Halsey | ||
| 2022 | The Haunting of Pendle Hill | Uncle Alfred | |
| 2023 | Trafficking | David Willis | |
| A New Breed of Criminal | Charlie Kray | ||
| 2024 | The Kingdom by the Sea | Ray | Final role |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Z-Cars | Despatch Rider | Series 6; episode 158: "Punch-Up: Part 2" |
| The Gunpowder Plot | Sir Everard Digby | Television film | |
| The Odd Man | Francis - Young Gentleman | Series 3 (Mr. Rose); episode 5: "Free and Easy" | |
| 1969 | ITV Playhouse | Philip | Series 2; episode 26: "Murder: Nobody Knows" |
| The Elusive Pimpernel | Philinte | Mini-series; episode 6: "The Dauphin in the Tower" | |
| The Gold Robbers | Terry Cradock | Mini-series; episodes 5, 8 & 13 | |
| 1970 | Coronation Street | Spider Smart | 1 episode |
| Confession | Karl | Episode 6: "Just as the Sun Was Rising" | |
| The Black Tulip | Captain Tilley | Mini-series; episodes 2, 3 & 6 | |
| From a Bird's Eye View | Jack Desmond | Episode 6: "Nobody Sleeps on a Honeymoon" | |
| 1971 | Jamie | Edward Bruce | Episode 11: "Ettercap" |
| 1972 | ITV Sunday Night Theatre | Geoff | Series 4; episode 20: "Ben Spray" |
| 1975 | Softly, Softly: Task Force | Andrews | Series 7; episode 3: "Protection" |
| 1976 | Play for Today | Police Constable Wilding | Series 6; episode 15: "A Story to Frighten the Children" |
| Couples | Mr. Minter | Episodes 73–78 | |
| Play of the Month | James Vane | Series 12; episode 1: "The Picture of Dorian Gray" | |
| Rogue Male | 2nd Seaman | Television film | |
| The Crezz | Colin Pitman | 5 episodes | |
| Crown Court | Det. Sgt. Jeffrey Lent | Series 5; episodes 78–80: "Lola: Parts 1–3" | |
| 1978–1979 | Hazell | James Hazell | Series 1 & 2; 22 episodes |
| 1980 | Hammer House of Horror | William | Episode 5: "The House that Bled to Death" |
| Life for Christine | Colin | Television film | |
| Play for Today | John Arnott | Series 10; episode 14: "Thicker Than Water" | |
| 1981 | Terry | Series 11; episode 19: "Sorry" | |
| 1982 | The Young Ones | Dr. Jim Morrison | Series 1; episode 5: "Interesting" |
| 1983 | Bergerac | Hardaker | Series 2; episode 7: "A Miracle Every Week" |
| Spooky | Danny Roberts | Episode 3: "The Danny Roberts Show" | |
| Nelly's Version | Insp. Leach | Television film | |
| Who Cares Wins - The Key to Success | Salesman | Austin Rover staff training video | |
| Video Stars | Bob Surge | Television film | |
| 1984 | Alas Smith and Jones | Various characters | Series 1; episode 1: "Police Chiropodist" |
| 1985 | A.D. | Burrus - Roman Officer | Mini-series; episodes 1 & 3–5 |
| 1988 | Windmills of the Gods | Harry Lantz | Mini-series; episodes 1 & 2 |
| Tales of the Unexpected | Ken Johnson | Series 9; episode 7: "The Dead Don't Steal" | |
| Bergerac | Gravel Beresford | Series 6; episode 8: "Retirement Plan" | |
| 1989 | Boon | Gerry Anscomb | Series 4; episode 1: "Walking Off Air" |
| 1990 | Colin's Sandwich | Alan Hunter | Series 2; episodes 1, 3 & 4 |
| Cluedo | Mr. Hall | Series 1; episode 2: "Deadly Disco" | |
| 1991 | El C.I.D. | Brian | Series 2; episode 3: "In the Rough" |
| Red Dwarf | Simulant | Series 4; episode 3: "Justice" | |
| 1993 | South of Sunset | Jonas Cooper | Episode 4: "Family Affair" |
| Acapulco H.E.A.T. | Derek Perkins | Episode 10: "Code Name: Body Double" | |
| 1994 | Silk Stalkings | Dustin Rhoades | Season 3; episode 15: "Love Bandit" |
| Tarzán | Robin Conway | Season 3; episode 21: "Tarzan and the Dangerous Competition" | |
| 1995 | The Governor | Edward Maynard | Series 1; episode 2 |
| 1996 | The Bill | Jim Brodie | Series 12; episode 9: "Judgement Call" |
| Pie in the Sky | DCI Doggett | Series 3; episode 4: "Doggett's Coat and Badge" | |
| Respect | Ronnie Ellis | Television film | |
| 1997 | The Famous Five | Tiger Dan | Series 2; episode 9: "Five Go Off in a Caravan" |
| Insiders | Neil Pine | Episode 6: "Exposure" | |
| The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous | Larry Lockton | Mini-series; episodes 1–3 | |
| Thief Takers | DCI Nick Hall | Series 3; episodes 3–8 | |
| Heartbeat | Charlie Fenton | Series 7; episode 7: "The Family Way" | |
| 1999 | Harbour Lights | Alan Semple | Series 1; episode 2: "Prince Charming" |
| Jonathan Creek | Vincent Rees | Series 3; episode 5: "Miracle in Crooked Lane" | |
| 2000 | The Coral Island | Pirate Captain | Mini-series; episodes 1–4 |
| Urban Gothic | Mr. Dimes | Series 1; episode 11: "The Boy's Club" | |
| Cold Feet | Felix Bishop | Series 3; episodes 1–3 | |
| 2004 | The Courtroom | Philip Catlow | Episode 11: "Slaves and Donkeys" |
| 2005 | The Commander | John Dawson | Series 2; episodes 1–4: "Virus: Parts 1 & 2" & "Blackdog: Parts 1 & 2" |
| New Tricks | Webb | Series 2; episode 3: "Trust Me" | |
| 2005–2006 | Footballers' Wives: Extra Time | Garry Ryan | Series 1 & 2; 14 episodes |
| 2006 | Footballers' Wives | Series 5; 6 episodes | |
| 2007 | Heartbeat | Gregory Flambard | Series 16; episode 19: "Mind Games" |
| Casualty | Michael Shapiro | Series 21; episode 19: "Fish Out of Water" | |
| 2007–2009 | EastEnders | Terry | 15 episodes |
| 2008 | Double the Fist | Fist Army | Series 2; episode 8: "Medieval" |
| 2009 | Hustle | Frank Rice | Series 5; episode 4: "Diamond Seeker" |
| 2011 | Casualty | Frank Fonteyne | Series 25; episode 37: "When the Bough Breaks..." |
| Rosamunde Pilcher | (unknown) | Episode 103: "Verlobt, verliebt, verwirrt" | |
| 2015, 2017 | Holby City | Barry Copeland | Series 17; episode 50, & series 19; episode 14 |
| 2020 | Doctors | Harold 'Aitch' Snetterton | Series 21; episode 152: "Bye-Bye, Mr. Kippy" |
References
- ^ 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.