Background
He was born in Beckenham and educated at the City of London School.
He was born in Beckenham and educated at the City of London School.
Royal Academy of Dramatic Artist
Born in Beckenham, Kent, he became widely recognised as the abrupt, bewildered Mr Walt in the Fawlty Towers episode "The Hotel Inspectors" and as Mr Watson the frustrated Public Relations training course instructor in an episode of Some Mothers Do "Avenue "Econometrics He first appeared in repertory theatre and at the Nottingham Playhouse. He played a wide range of characters throughout his colourful and extensive career on television and stage, often portraying blustering, pompous, crusty and cantankerous characters.
He appeared in more than forty films, including The Anniversary (recreating his West End stage role), and The Lost Continent (both 1968),, and
On the small screen, he appeared as a guest in a variety of shows, including The Likely Lads and Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?, Minder, Bergerac, The Sweeney, Shadows, All Creatures Great and Small, Citizen Smith, Just William, The Good Life, L for Lester, Neville Dennis in Callan "Rules of the Game" (1972), Z-Cars, and as the regular character Bruce Westrop (in 1979) in Emmerdale Farm. He played a magistrate in episodes of four different British sitcoms, Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?, The Good Life, Citizen Smith and Minder.
His later appearances were limited by ill health and he lived in semi-retirement in Surrey, with his beloved dog Oscar. Cossins died from heart disease at the age of 63, in 1997.