John Nicholas Ball (11 April 1946 – 4 June 2024) was an English actor. He was best known for playing the title role of private detective James Hazell in the television series Hazell between 1978 and 1979.
Ball portrayed the vicious gang lord Terry Bates in EastEnders between 2007 and 2009. He played Garry Ryan in series five of Footballers' Wives and both series of its spin-off programme Footballers' Wives: Extra Time.
He had played a number of supporting roles in various television series including Z-Cars, Mr. Rose, The Gold Robbers, Softly Softly: Task Force, The Crezz, The Young Ones, Bergerac, Spooky, Tales of the Unexpected, Boon, Colin's Sandwich, Red Dwarf, The Governor, The Bill, Pie in the Sky, Heartbeat, Jonathan Creek, Cold Feet, New Tricks, The Commander, Casualty, Hustle, Holby City and Doctors.
The voice of Nicholas Ball can be heard as well on various audio books offered via the internet; he has narrated books from such authors as Christopher Hitchens and James Maybrick. In 2019, he appeared in an advert for Premier Inn, playing the part of Lenny Henry's manager.
Personal life Ball was born in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, and raised in Hastings, Sussex. He trained to be an actor at Bristol Old Vic.
Ball was married to actress and psychologist, Pamela Stephenson from 1978 until 1984, when she left him for the comedian Billy Connolly. He later married his long-term partner, actress Ayda Kay, in 2019.
Ball died on 4 June 2024, at the age of 78.
Filmography Film YearTitleRoleNotes1975OverlordArthur1978Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?SkeffingtonUK title: Too Many Chefs1985LifeforceDerebridgeRunning Out of Luck(unknown)ClaudiaHoward1989CasinoJulienShort film1994Perfect GiftSheffield1998CroupierJack Snr.1999The ManorSir Everett Blake2000Out of DepthLenny2002ChampionshipGeorgeShort filmTop DogRay KingShort film2004HellboyRussian GeneralDirector's Cut DVD. Uncredited role2008Mutant ChroniclesPlutocratSisterhoodJack2009Dead Man RunningFight Bookie2011PeterMartin ClementEnchantressMerlin2012FifteenMr. AllenAlso associate producer2013Nightmare BoxMan2015SurgeryThe Crude SurgeonShort film2018The Krays: Dead Man WalkingHarry Webster2019MuseMr. WilliamsWhatever Became of Richard Blaine?RichardShort filmPentagramMr. Halsey2022The Haunting of Pendle HillUncle Alfred2023TraffickingDavid WillisA New Breed of CriminalCharlie Kray2024The Kingdom by the SeaRayFinal role
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1968Z-CarsDespatch RiderSeries 6; episode 158: "Punch-Up: Part 2"The Gunpowder PlotSir Everard DigbyTelevision filmThe Odd ManFrancis - Young GentlemanSeries 3 (Mr. Rose); episode 5: "Free and Easy"1969ITV PlayhousePhilipSeries 2; episode 26: "Murder: Nobody Knows"The Elusive PimpernelPhilinteMini-series; episode 6: "The Dauphin in the Tower"The Gold RobbersTerry CradockMini-series; episodes 5, 8 & 131970Coronation StreetSpider Smart1 episodeConfessionKarlEpisode 6: "Just as the Sun Was Rising"The Black TulipCaptain TilleyMini-series; episodes 2, 3 & 6From a Bird's Eye ViewJack DesmondEpisode 6: "Nobody Sleeps on a Honeymoon"1971JamieEdward BruceEpisode 11: "Ettercap"1972ITV Sunday Night TheatreGeoffSeries 4; episode 20: "Ben Spray"1975Softly, Softly: Task ForceAndrewsSeries 7; episode 3: "Protection"1976Play for TodayPolice Constable WildingSeries 6; episode 15: "A Story to Frighten the Children"CouplesMr. MinterEpisodes 73–78Play of the MonthJames VaneSeries 12; episode 1: "The Picture of Dorian Gray"Rogue Male2nd SeamanTelevision filmThe CrezzColin Pitman5 episodesCrown CourtDet. Sgt. Jeffrey LentSeries 5; episodes 78–80: "Lola: Parts 1–3"1978–1979HazellJames HazellSeries 1 & 2; 22 episodes1980Hammer House of HorrorWilliamEpisode 5: "The House that Bled to Death"Life for ChristineColinTelevision filmPlay for TodayJohn ArnottSeries 10; episode 14: "Thicker Than Water"1981TerrySeries 11; episode 19: "Sorry"1982The Young OnesDr. Jim MorrisonSeries 1; episode 5: "Interesting"1983BergeracHardakerSeries 2; episode 7: "A Miracle Every Week"SpookyDanny RobertsEpisode 3: "The Danny Roberts Show"Nelly's VersionInsp. LeachTelevision filmWho Cares Wins - The Key to SuccessSalesmanAustin Rover staff training videoVideo StarsBob SurgeTelevision film1984Alas Smith and JonesVarious charactersSeries 1; episode 1: "Police Chiropodist"1985A.D.Burrus - Roman OfficerMini-series; episodes 1 & 3–51988Windmills of the GodsHarry LantzMini-series; episodes 1 & 2Tales of the UnexpectedKen JohnsonSeries 9; episode 7: "The Dead Don't Steal"BergeracGravel BeresfordSeries 6; episode 8: "Retirement Plan"1989BoonGerry AnscombSeries 4; episode 1: "Walking Off Air"1990Colin's SandwichAlan HunterSeries 2; episodes 1, 3 & 4CluedoMr. HallSeries 1; episode 2: "Deadly Disco"1991El C.I.D.BrianSeries 2; episode 3: "In the Rough"Red DwarfSimulantSeries 4; episode 3: "Justice"1993South of SunsetJonas CooperEpisode 4: "Family Affair"Acapulco H.E.A.T.Derek PerkinsEpisode 10: "Code Name: Body Double"1994Silk StalkingsDustin RhoadesSeason 3; episode 15: "Love Bandit"TarzánRobin ConwaySeason 3; episode 21: "Tarzan and the Dangerous Competition"1995The GovernorEdward MaynardSeries 1; episode 21996The BillJim BrodieSeries 12; episode 9: "Judgement Call"Pie in the SkyDCI DoggettSeries 3; episode 4: "Doggett's Coat and Badge"RespectRonnie EllisTelevision film1997The Famous FiveTiger DanSeries 2; episode 9: "Five Go Off in a Caravan"InsidersNeil PineEpisode 6: "Exposure"The Man Who Made Husbands JealousLarry LocktonMini-series; episodes 1–3Thief TakersDCI Nick HallSeries 3; episodes 3–8HeartbeatCharlie FentonSeries 7; episode 7: "The Family Way"1999Harbour LightsAlan SempleSeries 1; episode 2: "Prince Charming"Jonathan CreekVincent ReesSeries 3; episode 5: "Miracle in Crooked Lane"2000The Coral IslandPirate CaptainMini-series; episodes 1–4Urban GothicMr. DimesSeries 1; episode 11: "The Boy's Club"Cold FeetFelix BishopSeries 3; episodes 1–32004The CourtroomPhilip CatlowEpisode 11: "Slaves and Donkeys"2005The CommanderJohn DawsonSeries 2; episodes 1–4: "Virus: Parts 1 & 2" & "Blackdog: Parts 1 & 2"New TricksWebbSeries 2; episode 3: "Trust Me"2005–2006Footballers' Wives: Extra TimeGarry RyanSeries 1 & 2; 14 episodes2006Footballers' WivesSeries 5; 6 episodes2007HeartbeatGregory FlambardSeries 16; episode 19: "Mind Games"CasualtyMichael ShapiroSeries 21; episode 19: "Fish Out of Water"2007–2009EastEndersTerry15 episodes2008Double the FistFist ArmySeries 2; episode 8: "Medieval"2009HustleFrank RiceSeries 5; episode 4: "Diamond Seeker"2011CasualtyFrank FonteyneSeries 25; episode 37: "When the Bough Breaks..."Rosamunde Pilcher(unknown)Episode 103: "Verlobt, verliebt, verwirrt"2015, 2017Holby CityBarry CopelandSeries 17; episode 50, & series 19; episode 142020DoctorsHarold 'Aitch' SnettertonSeries 21; episode 152: "Bye-Bye, Mr. Kippy"
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