Actor
George Cole
Born 22 April 1925 · Tooting, South London, England, UK — died 5 August 2015
George Cole (1925–2015) was an English actor whose screen career spanned over six decades. He is best remembered for playing the wheeler-dealer Arthur Daley in the TV series Minder. In film, he was a familiar face in British comedies, notably as Flash Harry in the St Trinian's series.
Key films
Cottage to Let (1941)
His film debut, as a young evacuee in a wartime thriller alongside his mentor Alastair Sim.
The Happiest Days of Your Life (1950)
Classic British school farce that placed him among the leading comic character actors of postwar cinema.
Scrooge (1951)
Appears as the young Scrooge in the celebrated adaptation of Dickens's A Christmas Carol, again with Alastair Sim.
Laughter in Paradise (1951)
Ealing-era-period British comedy that showcased his talent for lively comic supporting roles.
The Belles of St Trinian's (1954)
First St Trinian's film, establishing his popular role as the cheeky spiv Flash Harry.
Key awards
No major awards are documented here.
On Cinespective
Full filmography · 72
- 1941Cottage to Let · as RonaldActor
- 1942Those Kids from Town · as CharlieActor
- 1943The Demi-Paradise · as PercyActor
- 1944Henry V · as BoyActor
- 1945Journey Together · as Curley, Bomb Aimer, Lancaster CrewActor
- 1948Quartet · as Herbert Sunbury (segment "The Kite")Actor
- 1948My Brother's Keeper · as Willie StannardActor
- 1949The Spider and the Fly · as Marc, detectiveActor
- 1950The Happiest Days of Your Life · as Junior Assistant Caretaker at Ministry of Education (Uncredited)Actor
- 1950Gone to Earth · as Cousin AlbertActor
- 1950Morning Departure · as ERA MarksActor
- 1951Scrooge · as Young Ebenezer ScroogeActor
- 1951Laughter in Paradise · as Herbert RussellActor
- 1951Lady Godiva Rides Again · as Johnny WestActor
- 1951Flesh and Blood · as John HannahActor
- 1952Folly to Be Wise · as Soldier in Brains Trust audienceActor
- 1952The Happy Family · as CyrilActor
- 1952Who Goes There! · as Arthur CrispActor
- 1952Top Secret · as George Archibald PottsActor
- 1953Our Girl Friday · as Jimmy CarrolActor
- 1953The Intruder · as John SummersActor
- 1953Will Any Gentleman...? · as Henry SterlingActor
- 1953The Clue of the Missing Ape · as GoboActor
- 1954An Inspector Calls · as Tram ConductorActor
- 1954The Belles of St Trinian's · as Flash HarryActor
- 1954Happy Ever After · as TerenceActor
- 1955Quentin Durward · as HayraddinActor
- 1955The Constant Husband · as Luigi SopranelliActor
- 1955A Prize of Gold · as Sgt. Roger MorrisActor
- 1955Where There's a Will · as Fred SlaterActor
- 1956The Green Man · as William BlakeActor
- 1956The Weapon · as Joshua HenryActor
- 1956It's a Wonderful World · as Ken MillerActor
- 1956The Anatomist · as Dr. Walter AndersonActor
- 1957Blue Murder at St. Trinian's · as "Flash" HarryActor
- 1959Too Many Crooks · as FingersActor
- 1959Don't Panic ChapsActor
- 1959The Bridal Path · as Police Sgt. BruceActor
- 1960The Pure Hell of St Trinian's · as 'Flash' Harry Cuthbert EdwardsActor
- 1963Cleopatra · as FlaviusActor
- 1963Dr. Syn, Alias the Scarecrow · as Mr. Sexton Mipps / HellspiteActor
- 1965One Way Pendulum · as Defence CounselActor
- 1965The Legend of Young Dick Turpin · as William EvansActor
- 1966The Great St Trinian's Train Robbery · as 'Flash' HarryActor
- 1967The Gentleman Caller · as Mr. HicksActor
- 1968Sally Go Round the Moon · as Max OsborneActor
- 1968Got Yourself Sorted Out at All? · as Max OsborneActor
- 1968Never Mind How We Got Here, Where Are We? · as Max OsborneActor
- 1969The Last Lonely Man · as James HaleActor
- 1969The Comic · as TodActor
- 1970The Vampire Lovers · as Roger MortonActor
- 1970The Right Prospectus · as Mr. NewboldActor
- 1970A Room in Town · as EdwinActor
- 1970Killing TimeActor
- 1971Fright · as JimActor
- 1973Take Me High · as Bert JacksonActor
- 1975Lloyd George Knew My Father · as Hubert Boothroyd MPActor
- 1976The Blue Bird · as TyloActor
- 1979Getting in on Concorde · as WillieActor
- 1982The Golden Treasury of Classic Fairy Tales · as narroratorActor
- 1985Blott on the LandscapeActor
- 1986Day To Remember · as WallyActor
- 1988Natural Causes · as VincentActor
- 1990Life After Life · as Eric BurtActor
- 1990Ginger · as GingerActor
- 1996Mary Reilly · as Mr. PooleActor
- 2000The Ghost of Greville Lodge · as Great UncleActor
- 2000The Sleeper · as GeorgeActor
- 2001Station Jim · as Stationmaster PopeActor
- 2007The Dinner Party · as GeorgeActor
- 2007A Class Apart · as George - Candy's grandadActor
- 2008Walt Disney Treasures - Dr. Syn: The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh · as Mr. Sexton Mipps / Hellspite (archive footage)Actor
Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.