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.

Filmography

• 2002Harold Shipman: Doctor Death — DI Stan Egerton
• The Inspector Lynley Mysteries — Dennis Luxford
• Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years — Ivan Braithwaite
• 2000Hero of the Hour — D. I. Whelan
• The Last Train — Austin Danforth
• The Vice — Paul Mason
• Midsomer Murders — Leo Bantock
• The Grand — Mr Morris
• Beck — Director
• 1996Emma — Mr. Weston
• 1994The Fireboy — Dad
• The Knock — Director
• Heartbeat — Reg Manston, Director
• 1992My Friend Walter — Charlie Throckmorton
• 1991A Small Dance — Brian Matkin
• 1991Pirate Prince — Jack Prince
• 1990Close Relations — Trevor
• Young, Gifted And Broke
• Streets Apart — Bernie Walters
• 1987Business as Usual — Mark
• Inspector Morse — Digby Tuckerman
• 1987On the Palm — Mowbray
• Truckers — Peter Picard
• 1986Chocky's Challenge — David Gore
• Chocky's Challenge — David Gore
• London's Burning — Mike 'Bayleaf' Wilson, Director
• 1986London's Burning: The Movie — Michael 'Bayleaf' Wilson
• 1986Miss Marple: The Murder at the Vicarage — Lawrence Redding
• Noel's Christmas Presents
• The Return of Sherlock Holmes — Richard Brunton
• Worlds Beyond — DI Craig
• 1985Chocky's Children — David Gore
• Screen Two — Trevor
• 1985The Corsican Brothers — Vincente Da Franchi
• 1984Chocky — David Gore
• Chocky — David Gore
• Sherlock Holmes — Richard Brunton
• 1983Macbeth — Malcolm
• One Summer — Kidder
• 1982John David — Patrick
• 1982Pink Floyd: The Wall — Lover
• 1980Exchange and Divide — Kenneth Carr
• 1980The Circe Complex — Dave
• Kids — Chris Langley
• Murder at the Wedding — Mike Fulmer
• The Omega Factor — Tom Crane
• 1978Forgotten Love Songs — Jack
• 1978Red Shift — John Fowler
• 1978The Medusa Touch — Lovelass
• BBC2 Play of the Week — Jack
• 1977Love on a Gunboat — Dennis Horncastle
• Cilla's World Of Comedy
• 1976For Services to Myself — Graham Banks
• Red Letter Day — Graham Banks
• 1976The Chester Mystery Plays
• 1976The Lady of the Camellias — Gaston
• 1974Stardust — Brian
• 1973Kisses at Fifty — Chris
• Sam — Frank Barraclough
• 1973The National Health — Student Doctor
• New Scotland Yard — Colin Guest
• 1972The Ruling Class — Fraser
• 1971Everybody Say Cheese — George Green
• 1971Nicholas and Alexandra — Stalin
• A Family at War — L Cpl Hattersley
• Play for Today — Patrick, Chris
• 1970Ride, Ride — Gerald
• 1970Sovereign's Company — Dawkins
• Tales of Unease — Gerald
• 1970The Long Distance Piano Player — Alf
• ITV Saturday Night Theatre — Peter Drew
• The Main Chance — Staff Sgt. Timson
• BBC Play of the Month — Jimmy Porter
• The Wednesday Play — Dawkins
• Hallmark Hall of Fame — Vincente de Franchi

Appearances as themselves (1)

• Horizon — Self