James Hazeldine(1947-2002)
- Actor
- Director
British actor James Hazeldine was a well-known face both on British television and on the 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 17 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.
His son is actor Sam Hazeldine.
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 17 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.
His son is actor Sam Hazeldine.