Colin Welland

In a career of over 30 years this Lancashire-born former art teacher has achieved great success in acting, both in television and film and writing, for television, film and stage.His first film appearance is perhaps still his best-loved, the sympathetic Mr Farthing in _Kes (1969)_ (qv), for which he won a BAFTA. Welland started in television in 1962 with his role of Constable David Graham in the long-running police serial _Z Cars (1962)_ (qv). With its groundbreaking grittiness the series introduced a new realism to the genre. Welland stayed with the show until 1965, by which time he was a household name.In the 70s, Welland combined careers as an actor and writer. On the film side he put in a nice turn as a laconic policeman in _Villain (1971)_ (qv) and featured in the controversial _Straw Dogs (1971)_ (qv) and in an episode of the popular TV series _The Sweeney: Faces (1975)_ (qv) and its big-screen adaptation _Sweeney! (1977)_ (qv). In this time he had also been writing and appearing (sometimes both) in several plays and TV movies - he was voted Best TV Playwright in Britain in 1970, 1973 and 1974. In 1972 he won a BAFTA for _Play for Today: Kisses at Fifty (1973)_ (qv). His plays were known for their earthy humour and working-class themes.He reappeared with the other stars from the early years of Z Cars in the show's finale in 1978. In 1979 he put in one of his most memorable TV performances in Dennis Potter's award-winning play _Play for Today: Blue Remembered Hills (1979)_ (qv) which recalled the days of the author's childhood. Playing the role of a child, Welland cavorted gleefully around woods and fields crammed into a pair of boy's shorts.His first film as a writer was the successful John Schlesinger wartime culture clash drama _Yanks (1979)_ (qv) and after this he decided to focus on his writing. He followed Yanks up with the multi award-winning, box office smash _Chariots of Fire (1981)_ (qv), for which he won the Best Screenplay Oscar.If his heralded arrival of the Brits didn't quite materialise, Welland did write some other worthy films - _Twice in a Lifetime (1985)_ (qv) was an effective blue-collar drama starring Gene Hackman, _A Dry White Season (1989)_ (qv) starred Donald Sutherland and dealt with the cruelties imposed by apartheid in South Africa (co-written with Euzhan Palcy) and _War of the Buttons (1994)_ (qv) was an offbeat and entertaining tale of warring children.He has put in occasional acting appearances over the years and was last seen in _Bramwell: Our Brave Boys (1998)_ (qv) and _Bramwell: Loose Women (1998)_ (qv) in 1998.In 1962 he married Patricia Sweeney, they have 4 children. Genevieve, Catherine, Caroline and Christie.::Graham William