James Bolam – Biography, Age, Wife and Career Highlights
James Bolam is a British actor born on 16 June 1935 in Sunderland, England, and he remains alive as of the latest available sources. Over more than sixty years, he has built a career across television, film, and theatre, and his biography on Wikipedia is among the most complete records of that career.
His television work includes The Likely Lads, Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?, When the Boat Comes In, Only When I Laugh, The Beiderbecke Trilogy, Born and Bred, and New Tricks. Those productions are among the most widely known of his professional life.
Is James Bolam Still Alive?
Yes. James Bolam is alive as of 2025. The most cited biographical sources list him as living.
He was born on 16 June 1935 in Sunderland, England, which makes him 89 years old according to the most widely cited sources. His IMDb page gives the same date of birth. Some newer entertainment databases, such as Plex, list him as 91 because they appear to use a different birth year, but the strongest biographical sources consistently give 1935.
What is James Bolam doing now? His most recently reported television credit is an appearance in The Cleaner in 2021. Current projects have not been publicly announced, and sources describe him as living privately.
Born
16 June 1935, Sunderland, England
Still Alive?
Yes, as of 2025
Known For
The Likely Lads, Only When I Laugh, The Beiderbecke Affair
Spouse
Susan Jameson (m. 1971)
Several points are worth keeping in mind:
- James Bolam is still alive as of 2025, aged 89.
- He is best known for playing Terry Collier in The Likely Lads and Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?
- His career spans more than sixty years, from a 1959 stage debut to a 2021 television credit.
- He has been married to actress Susan Jameson since 1971.
- The couple has one daughter, named Lucy in several sources.
- No reliable public source reports a serious illness.
- His net worth is not publicly documented.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | James Christopher Bolam |
| Date of Birth | 16 June 1935 |
| Place of Birth | Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England |
| Nationality | English |
| Occupation | Actor (television, film, theatre) |
| Years Active | 1961–present |
| Spouse | Susan Jameson (m. 1971) |
| Children | 1 daughter |
| Residence | Wisborough Green, West Sussex, and Chiswick, London |
| Known For | The Likely Lads, Only When I Laugh, The Beiderbecke Trilogy, New Tricks |
What Are James Bolam’s Most Famous Movies and TV Shows?
Bolam’s filmography stretches from the early 1960s to the 2020s and moves between comedy, drama, and children’s television. His breakthrough came with The Likely Lads in the 1960s, an association recorded in the Museum of Broadcast Communications. The roles that followed made him a permanent presence on British television.
How Did James Bolam Start His Acting Career?
Bolam trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama and made his professional stage debut at the Royal Court Theatre in 1959, according to Screenonline. Early in his career, he also worked in repertory theatre. His television breakthrough arrived in the 1960s with The Likely Lads.
Which TV Roles Made James Bolam Famous?
His best-known television roles include Terry Collier in The Likely Lads and Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?, Jack Ford in When the Boat Comes In, Roy Figgis in Only When I Laugh, Trevor Chaplin in The Beiderbecke Trilogy, Bill MacGregor in Second Thoughts, Arthur Gilder in Born and Bred, Jack Halford in New Tricks, and the title role in Grandpa in My Pocket. TVSA lists these among his most recognised credits.
The Beiderbecke Trilogy is often identified by its opening instalment, The Beiderbecke Affair; both names refer to the same series. Likewise, Terry Collier appeared in both The Likely Lads and its sequel, Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?
What Films Has James Bolam Appeared In?
His film credits include A Kind of Loving (1962), The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (1962), Otley (1969), In Celebration (1975), and the film version of The Likely Lads (1976). He also provided a voice role in The Plague Dogs. Later credits include The End of the Affair (1999), It Was an Accident (2000), and To Kill a King (2003), all listed on Rotten Tomatoes.
Who Is James Bolam’s Wife? Does He Have Children?
James Bolam has been married to actress Susan Jameson since 1971. The couple has one daughter. Public biographical sources describe him as private and reticent, and he has kept his family life largely out of the public eye.
Who Is Susan Jameson?
Susan Jameson is an actress with her own extensive career in television and theatre. She and Bolam married in 1971, according to sources including NNDB. The couple are reported to live in Wisborough Green, West Sussex, and Chiswick, London.
Does James Bolam Have Children?
Bolam and Jameson have one daughter, named Lucy in several sources, including an Amazon Prime Video biography. Sources name her as Lucy, but little biographical information about her is publicly available.
What Is James Bolam’s Net Worth?
The available sources do not provide a reliable net-worth figure. Estimates circulate on entertainment websites, but they are not supported by the biographical sources used here and should not be treated as authoritative.
No trustworthy public figure exists for James Bolam’s net worth. Figures found on entertainment databases vary and are not corroborated by reliable biographical records.
Does James Bolam Have an Illness?
No reliable source in the available material indicates a specific ongoing illness or serious public health condition. The sources instead describe him as active and living privately.
How Has James Bolam’s Life and Career Unfolded So Far?
The main events in Bolam’s life and career can be set out as follows:
- — Born on 16 June in Sunderland, England.
- — Made his professional stage debut at the Royal Court Theatre.
- — Gained fame as Terry Collier in The Likely Lads.
- — Married actress Susan Jameson.
- — Starred in Only When I Laugh.
- — Played in The Beiderbecke Affair.
- — Portrayed Harold Shipman in the ITV drama Shipman.
- — Appeared in The Cleaner.
- — Still alive and living privately.
These events are documented across the main biographical sources, including Wikipedia, Screenonline, and IMDb.
What Is Certain and What Remains Unclear About James Bolam?
The core facts of Bolam’s life are well documented. A few details, however, are less clear or not publicly confirmed.
| Established information | Information that remains unclear |
|---|---|
| James Bolam is alive as of 2025. | No confirmed reports of a serious illness have been published. |
| He was born on 16 June 1935. | His net worth is not publicly disclosed; estimates vary. |
| He has been married to Susan Jameson since 1971. | Current projects beyond 2021’s The Cleaner are not widely reported. |
| He has one daughter. | Some databases list a different birth year, which creates confusion about his age. |
The most consistent biographical sources give 16 June 1935 as James Bolam’s date of birth. Some entertainment databases list a different birth year, which explains occasional reports that he is 91 rather than 89.
Why Does James Bolam Matter in British Television History?
Bolam came to public attention in the 1960s with The Likely Lads and remained a regular presence on British screens for the following decades. His work includes comedy, drama, and children’s programming, which is an unusually wide range.
He moved from stage work to television in the early 1960s and stayed relevant across several different eras. His later role as Jack Halford in New Tricks introduced him to a new generation of viewers, while Grandpa in My Pocket brought him to children’s audiences.
Public biographical sources describe him as private and reticent. He married actress Susan Jameson in 1971, and the couple has one daughter. Learn about other veteran British actors.
Where Can You Find Reliable Information About James Bolam?
The most complete overview of Bolam’s life and career is the Wikipedia article, which covers his early years, professional training, and full body of work. IMDb offers a detailed filmography that includes television and voice roles. The BBC Drama profile is a shorter professional introduction, while Rotten Tomatoes lists his film credits alongside review scores. Screenonline provides a critical biography of his career.
What Is the Bottom Line on James Bolam?
James Bolam is alive in 2025, aged 89, and remains widely recognised for a career that spans more than sixty years. His best-known work includes The Likely Lads, When the Boat Comes In, Only When I Laugh, The Beiderbecke Trilogy, Born and Bred, and New Tricks. He has been married to Susan Jameson since 1971, and the couple has one daughter. Learn about other veteran British actors.
Short Answers to Common Questions About James Bolam
What is James Bolam’s full name?
His full name is James Christopher Bolam.
Where was James Bolam born?
He was born in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England.
Where does James Bolam live?
Sources say he lives with his wife in Wisborough Green, West Sussex, and Chiswick, London.
What training did James Bolam complete before his television career?
He trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama and made his professional stage debut at the Royal Court Theatre in 1959.
Who did James Bolam play in New Tricks?
He played Jack Halford in New Tricks.
Which animated film features James Bolam’s voice?
He provided a voice role in the animated film The Plague Dogs.
What was James Bolam’s most recent known role?
His most recently widely reported credit is an appearance in The Cleaner in 2021.
How old is James Bolam?
He was born on 16 June 1935, making him 89 years old as of 2025.
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