5
Born · April 4, 1947
Died · December 17, 2002 (55 years old)
Known For: Acting
Place of Birth: Salford, Lancashire, England
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.
DI Stan Egerton
6.7
2002
Dennis Luxford · (1 episode)
7.1
2002
Ivan Braithwaite · (6 episodes)
3.0
2001
D. I. Whelan
6.0
2000
Austin Danforth · (6 episodes)
7.3
1999
(2 episodes)
5.5
1999
(1 episode)
5.0
1997
Leo Bantock · (1 episode)
7.5
1997
Mr. Weston
6.6
1996
(1 episode)
6.3
1996
Charlie Throckmorton
0.0
1992
Reg Manston · (1 episode)
7.0
1992
Jack Prince
10.0
1991
Brian Matkin
0.0
1991
Trevor
0.0
1990
(7 episodes)
0.0
1989
Bernie Walters · (12 episodes)
0.0
1988
Peter Picard · (8 episodes)
0.0
1987
Mowbray
0.0
1987
Digby Tuckerman · (1 episode)
7.8
1987
Mark
6.0
1987
Lawrence Redding
6.6
1986
(1 episode)
0.0
1986
Michael 'Bayleaf' Wilson
8.5
1986
Mike 'Bayleaf' Wilson · (83 episodes)
7.6
1986
David Gore
5.5
1986
(6 episodes)
0.0
1986
Vincente Da Franchi
6.0
1985
David Gore
6.0
1985
Lawrence Redding · (1 episode)
8.0
1984
Richard Brunton · (1 episode)
8.1
1984
David Gore
0.0
1984
David Gore · (6 episodes)
6.3
1984
Malcolm
6.4
1983
(5 episodes)
7.7
1983
Patrick
0.0
1982
Lover
8.0
1982
Kenneth Carr
0.0
1980
Tom Crane · (10 episodes)
6.5
1979
(13 episodes)
0.0
1979
(1 episode)
5.2
1978
Lovelass
6.8
1978
John Fowler
7.4
1978
Jack
0.0
1978
Dennis Horncastle
0.0
1977
Gaston
0.0
1976
(1 episode)
7.5
1976
Graham Banks
0.0
1976
Brian
5.7
1974
Frank Barraclough · (39 episodes)
5.0
1973
6.6
1973
Chris
0.0
1973
Fraser
6.4
1972
Stalin
6.9
1971
George Green
0.0
1971
Gerald
6.0
1970
Alf
0.0
1970
Patrick · (2 episodes)
6.1
1970
Chris · (1 episode)
6.1
1970
Dawkins
7.0
1970
Staff Sgt. Timson · (1 episode)
8.0
1969
(1 episode)
5.0
1965
Self · (1 episode)
7.3
1964
Vincente de Franchi · (1 episode)
8.7
1951