James Bolam, the British actor born on 16 June 1935 in Sunderland, County Durham, is listed as alive in current reference sources. He has been active as an actor since 1961 and is best known for The Likely Lads, Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?, When the Boat Comes In, and New Tricks.
Across six decades, Bolam moved between comedy and drama. He first became famous as Terry Collier in The Likely Lads, then took on heavier roles in series such as When the Boat Comes In and Shipman, and later found a new audience in New Tricks. His most recent known credits are The Cleaner (2021) and Marriage (2022).
Despite his fame, he has kept his private life out of the public eye. He has been married to actress Susan Jameson since 1971, and the couple have lived in Sussex since the late 1970s. That combination of a famous face and a quiet life explains much of the continuing curiosity about him.
Is James Bolam Still Alive?
Yes. James Bolam is still alive. Comedy.co.uk and Wikipedia both list him among living performers, and no credible report of his death has been published. Born in June 1935, he is now in his nineties.
The question is common for performers of his generation. Bolam has not appeared in a new production since Marriage (2022), and he keeps a low public profile. Recent coverage such as Bernard Hill, Titanic and Lord of the Rings Actor, Dies at 79 has drawn attention to other British actors of that generation; no equivalent announcement exists for Bolam.
James Bolam: Key Facts at a Glance
Four key facts about the English actor:
- Known for: The Likely Lads, When the Boat Comes In, Shipman, Marriage
- Age in 2025: Turns 90 on 16 June 2025 (born 16 June 1935)
- Family: Wife: Susan Jameson; daughter: Lucy Jameson
- Current status: Alive; most recent known credit: Marriage (2022)
Key Insights
- Bolam is one of the last surviving stars of 1960s British comedy and a commanding dramatic actor.
- His on-screen partnership with Rodney Bewes in The Likely Lads defines his popular legacy and still drives many search queries.
- Despite a long career, he remains a private figure; BFI Screenonline describes his off-screen temperament as reserved.
- He has been married to actress Susan Jameson since 1971, and the couple have lived in Sussex since the late 1970s.
- He received an MBE in the 2009 Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to drama.
- His most recent known credits, The Cleaner (2021) and Marriage (2022), show that he was still taking new roles in his eighties.
Snapshot: James Bolam
| Born | 16 June 1935 |
|---|---|
| Birthplace | Sunderland, County Durham, England |
| Full name | James Christopher Bolam |
| Nationality | English |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1961–present |
| Spouse | Susan Jameson (married 1971) |
| Children | One daughter, Lucy Jameson |
| Notable comedy work | The Likely Lads; Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? |
| Notable drama work | When the Boat Comes In (1975–1977) |
| Recent credits | The Cleaner (2021); Marriage (2022) |
How Old Is James Bolam?
James Bolam was born on 16 June 1935 and turned 90 on 16 June 2025. His full name is James Christopher Bolam, and his birthplace is recorded as Sunderland, County Durham, according to Wikipedia and IMDb.
Born in Sunderland in 1935
Bolam was born in the north-east of England, in Sunderland, County Durham. His occupation is recorded simply as “actor”, and his professional career is listed as beginning in 1961.
Why do some sources list a different birth year?
One reference site, BFI Screenonline, has given his birth year as 1938. Wikipedia and IMDb both record 16 June 1935, making that the better-supported date.
The 1938 date appears in BFI Screenonline’s profile of Bolam. Wikipedia and IMDb both give 16 June 1935, and that is the date accepted by most biographical sources.
What Movies and TV Shows Has James Bolam Been In?
Bolam’s career spans six decades and crosses comedy, drama, and film. BFI Screenonline traces his professional journey from light entertainment to leading roles in prime-time television drama.
The Likely Lads and the 1960s
His breakthrough came in 1964 as Terry Collier in The Likely Lads, opposite Rodney Bewes. He reprised the role in Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? in 1970. The pairing remains central to his popular legacy.
During the same period he also worked in film. His early credits, listed on Rotten Tomatoes, include A Kind of Loving (1962), The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (1962), and Otley (1969).
Drama and later television
In 1975, Bolam took the lead in When the Boat Comes In, a period drama that ran until 1977. His later television work includes Only When I Laugh, The Beiderbecke Trilogy, Born and Bred, New Tricks, and the children’s series Grandpa in My Pocket.
He also appeared as the lead in the ITV drama Shipman and has portrayed Harold Wilson. His most recent known credits are The Cleaner (2021) and Marriage (2022). Film work continued into the 2000s with To Kill a King (2003), following earlier appearances in In Celebration (1975) and the 1976 film version of The Likely Lads.
In the 2009 Queen’s Birthday Honours, James Bolam was appointed MBE for services to drama.
Michael Caine – Biography, Films, and Lasting Legacy shows how another British actor of Bolam’s generation built an equally long career, though mainly in cinema.
Who Is James Bolam’s Wife?
James Bolam’s wife is the actress Susan Jameson. They married in 1971, and the marriage is recorded in the main biographical sources.
Susan Jameson
Susan Jameson is a British actress with her own extensive television career. The couple have lived in Sussex since the late 1970s, according to IMDb.
Daughter Lucy
The couple have one daughter, Lucy Jameson. Sources differ on her birth year, with some listing 1976 and others 1980.
Where does the family live?
Since the late 1970s, Bolam and Susan Jameson have been based in Sussex. The detail appears in IMDb’s biographical notes and fits the reserved public profile described by BFI Screenonline.
Did James Bolam Attend Rodney Bewes’ Funeral?
There is no documented record of whether James Bolam attended Rodney Bewes’s funeral in 2017. The main biographical sources do not mention the event, so any claim about his attendance remains unconfirmed.
What the sources do confirm is that Bolam rejected the idea of a rift with his former co-star. A profile on britmag.co.uk records him saying there was “no fall-out” between them.
What Is James Bolam’s Net Worth?
No reliable figure for James Bolam’s net worth appears in any of the main reference sources. Wikipedia, IMDb, BFI Screenonline, and Comedy.co.uk all provide biographical and career information, but none publishes a verified estimate of his wealth.
None of the major reference sources lists a net worth for James Bolam. Any specific figure seen online should be treated as unverified.
The absence of a published figure is itself the accurate answer: his earnings have never been publicly documented, and no financial profile of Bolam exists in any of the established sources.
What Are the Key Dates in James Bolam’s Life?
The key dates in Bolam’s life and career are well recorded.
- – Born in Sunderland, County Durham, England. (Sources: Wikipedia; IMDb)
- – Breakthrough role as Terry Collier in The Likely Lads. (Sources: Wikipedia; BFI Screenonline)
- – Reprised Terry Collier in Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? (Source: Wikipedia)
- – Starred as Jack Ford in When the Boat Comes In. (Source: Wikipedia)
- – Co-star Rodney Bewes died. (Source: Wikipedia)
- – Appeared in The Cleaner. (Source: Wikipedia)
- – Appeared in Marriage, his most recent known credit. (Source: Wikipedia)
- – Turned 90. (Based on his recorded birth date.)
What Is Confirmed and What Remains Unclear?
The available sources agree on the core facts of James Bolam’s life. A few details, however, are not settled.
| Established information | Information that remains unclear |
|---|---|
| Born on 16 June 1935 in Sunderland, County Durham | His exact net worth is not published in any major reference source |
| Married to actress Susan Jameson since 1971 | Whether he attended Rodney Bewes’s funeral in 2017 is not documented |
| Has one daughter, Lucy Jameson | Her birth year is listed as 1976 in some sources and 1980 in others |
| Starred in The Likely Lads, When the Boat Comes In, The Cleaner (2021), and Marriage (2022) | Any public appearance or formal retirement status after 2022 is unverified |
| Received an MBE in 2009 for services to drama | BFI Screenonline lists his birth year as 1938, conflicting with the 1935 date elsewhere |
Why Does James Bolam Matter to British Television?
James Bolam’s place in British television rests on the range of his career. He was one half of the central double act in The Likely Lads, then moved into leading dramatic roles with When the Boat Comes In, and later reached a new audience with New Tricks. Few British actors of his generation moved as consistently between sitcom and serious drama.
BFI Screenonline gives his career serious critical attention and notes his reserved off-screen temperament. That separation of public role from private life is part of the reason his reputation has remained steady across six decades.
Where Can You Read More About James Bolam?
The most reliable published information about James Bolam is found in the biographical databases covering British television: Wikipedia, IMDb, BFI Screenonline, Comedy.co.uk, and Rotten Tomatoes. These sources agree on his birth date, his marriage, and his principal credits.
One published profile records a direct statement from Bolam about his relationship with his best-known co-star:
“There was no fall-out.”
James Bolam, on Rodney Bewes, quoted in a profile on britmag.co.uk
Screenonline is part of the British Film Institute, whose wider reference catalogue is available at bfi.org.uk.
What Is James Bolam’s Legacy?
James Bolam’s legacy rests on a body of work that crosses six decades of British television. From Terry Collier in The Likely Lads to Jack Ford in When the Boat Comes In and the long-running success of New Tricks, he has remained a familiar and respected presence. Now in his nineties, he is also one of the last surviving stars of 1960s British comedy, and a reminder that a performer can be widely loved without making his private life public.
Frequently Asked Questions About James Bolam
What is James Bolam’s full name?
His full name is James Christopher Bolam. He was born on 16 June 1935 in Sunderland, County Durham, England.
When did James Bolam marry Susan Jameson?
James Bolam married actress Susan Jameson in 1971. The couple have one daughter, Lucy Jameson, and have lived in Sussex since the late 1970s.
Does James Bolam have children?
Yes. James Bolam and Susan Jameson have one daughter, Lucy Jameson. Sources differ on her birth year, with some listing 1976 and others 1980.
What role did James Bolam play in The Likely Lads?
James Bolam played Terry Collier in The Likely Lads, opposite Rodney Bewes. He reprised the role in Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? in 1970.
What award did James Bolam receive in 2009?
James Bolam was appointed MBE in the 2009 Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to drama.
Did James Bolam and Rodney Bewes have a falling out?
James Bolam has said there was “no fall-out” between him and Rodney Bewes, according to a profile on britmag.co.uk.
What was James Bolam’s most recent known TV role?
James Bolam’s most recent known television credit is Marriage (2022). He also appeared in The Cleaner (2021).
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Grace Hollis is Film & Music Correspondent at CultureObserver.uk, covering film releases, music news, soundtracks and awards season.