Sir Coles John Jeremy Child, 3rd Baronet (20 September 1944 – 7 March 2022) was a British actor.
Early life Coles John Jeremy Child was born on 20 September 1944 in Woking, Surrey, son of Foreign Office diplomat Sir Coles John Child, 2nd Baronet, DL, a Major in the Coldstream Guards and aide-de-camp to the Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada from 1931 to 1933, and Sheila, daughter of Hugh Mathewson, of Pine Avenue, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Coles family were lords of the manor of Bromley, and lived at Bromley Palace.Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, 107th ed., vol. 1, ed. Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage Ltd, 2003, p. 776 He was educated at Wellesley House School,Profile , wellesley.kent.sch.uk. Retrieved 2 May 2013. a preparatory school in the coastal town of Broadstairs in Kent and at Eton College and Aiglon College, then spent a year at Poitiers University, followed by training as an actor at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
Career Having for a short time been a "reluctant" City broker, after appearing in repertory theatre, Child was cast in a significant role in the 1967 film Privilege. Following this appearance, he played over 90 different roles in films and television, including a small role in the film Quadrophenia; as Piers Leigh in the miniseries Edward & Mrs. Simpson; as one of the main villains in Bird of Prey; as Tory politician Charles Gurney Seymour in the television adaptation of Jeffrey Archer's First Among Equals, and a cameo in A Fish Called Wanda. From 1977 to 1978, he appeared in the second series of Backs to the Land. He also played a typical officer-class role in Fairly Secret Army (1984–86).Kaleidoscope's TV Brain website
Child appeared in the 2004 film Wimbledon and television drama Judge John Deed. He also appeared in Doctors for one episode, and most recently appeared as David Walsh in EastEnders. Child played the British Foreign Secretary three times in his career.
Politics In 1993, Child appeared in a party political broadcast for the Labour Party which also starred Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry.
Personal life Child was married three times, his first wife being the actress Deborah Grant, by whom he had a daughter. His second wife was Jan Todd, by whom he had a son and a daughter. He had a daughter and a son from his third marriage to publisher Elizabeth Morgan.Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, 107th ed., vol. 1, ed. Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage Ltd, 2003, pp. 776-777 He lived in Ewelme, Oxfordshire. Child died after a long illness on 7 March 2022, at the age of 77.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1967 Privilege Martin Crossley 1968 Decline and Fall... of a Birdwatcher Nigel 1969 Play Dirty 2nd Lieutenant Oh! What a Lovely War Wealthy Young Man Uncredited The Gladiators B-1 1970 The Breaking of Bumbo Billy Jane Eyre Harry Lynn TV movie1971 Quest for Love Dougie Raynes Uncredited1972 Doomwatch David Broome Young Winston Austen Chamberlain Uncredited All Star Comedy Carnival Timothy Tanner (Father, Dear Father), sketch1972–73 Father, Dear Father Timothy Tanner 7 episodes1973 Ooh, La La Corignon 1 episode. (broadcast '68-'73)1975 The SweeneyElphick 1 episode Days of Hope Selwyn Davies 1 episode of mini-series 1976 The Glittering Prizes John Cadman 3 episodes The New Avengers Lieutenant 1 episodeEmily (The Awakening of Emily) Gerald1977 Hardcore Tenniel Wings Lieutenant Peter Conrad 3 episodes1978 The Stud Lawyer 1979 Quadrophenia Agency Man 1980 Sir Henry at Rawlinson End Peregrine Maynard Tis Pity She's a Whore Priest BBC TV Movie1981 Chanel Solitaire Uncredited1983 High Road to China Silversmith 1984 Give My Regards to Broad Street Record Company Executive 1 1988 Taffin Martin A Fish Called Wanda Mr Johnson 1993 Harnessing Peacocks Julian Reeves TV movie1994 The Madness of King George Black Rod 1997 Regeneration Balfour Graham 1999 Whatever Happened to Harold Smith? Doctor Bannister 2001 Lagaan Maj. Cotton 2001 South Kensington Camilla's Father 2002Midsomer MurdersAnthony TalbotEpisode: "Murder on St. Malley's Day" Safe Conduct Jeremy 2004 Wimbledon Fred Pilger 2005 Separate Lies Angus Burrell 2011 Foster John Burns The Iron Lady Cabinet Minister 2017 Darkest Hour Lord Stanhope
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