James Cossins' most iconic role was his portrayal of the fastidious and repressed Brown in the 1971 cult classic Villain, opposite Richard Burton. His acting career began in the mid-1960s, with notable appearances in films such as Richard Lester's How I Won the War (1967),Hammer's The Lost Continent (1968),and the Jack Wild vehicle Melody (1971).
In addition to his film work, Cossins was prolific on television, making appearances in shows like The Avengers (1961),Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em (1973),Bless This House (1971),Bergerac (1981),Minder (1979),and perhaps most memorably, Fawlty Towers (1975). He was particularly skilled at playing officious, blustering characters.
Cossins' contribution to his films and television shows was often limited to just a few minutes of screen time, but he was always effective in his roles. He joined a number of British character actors in the 1974 Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun, playing the role of Colthorpe.
After a five-year hiatus, Cossins returned to cinema screens in The Great Train Robbery (1978). He went on to appear in the 1981 film Sphinx, playing the role of Lord Carnaryon, and then in the 1982 film Gandhi, though he was down the cast list.
Cossins' final film appearances were in the 1987 film Grand Larceny and the 1992 film Immaculate Conception. He also appeared in the 1993 TV movie Unnatural Causes before his death in 1997.
