John Forgeham obit

Actor John Forgeham, star of The Italian Job, dies after falling out of bed

He gained a new legion of fans in Footballers' Wives but struggled with depression in later years 

He was not on the list.

The actor John Forgeham, who starred in The Italian Job, has died aged 75 after falling out of bed at his West Sussex home.

He broke his collar bone in the accident on Wednesday and was later rushed to hospital after suffering an internal bleed.

His daughter Jonesta confirmed yesterday that he died on Friday afternoon.

The West Midlands-born actor played Frank in the 1969 classic Michael Caine film and became known to a younger audience when he starred in the ITV series Footballers’ Wives, playing manager Frank Laslett.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, his daughter said: "Dad was a very talented actor and a charismatic and wonderful man.

"We had a close relationship and I was the person who looked after him. He would want to be remembered as this wonderful actor. He lived and breathed acting."

She added:"'It is still very raw. It is a shock because he died suddenly. We're all in shock.

"He had a fall on Wednesday night and called me on Friday morning to say he wasn't very well.

"He was rushed to hospital and he had some sort of burst inside – something ruptured. There was blood everywhere."

Born in Kidderminster in 1941, Forgeham joined an amateur dramatic society while working at a factory in his youth and later won a scholarship to RADA, graduating with a silver medal for best performing student.

He then joined the Royal Shakespeare Company from 1966 to 1972, touring nationally and internationally, before founding the Globe Shakespeare Theatre in Sydney.

His other television credits included The Avengers, Z-Cars, Crossroads, Dynasty, The Sweeney, Ivanhoe, Bergerac and Prime Suspect.

His death follows a four year battle with mental health problems after he struggled to find work following the success of Footballers’ Wives, his family said.

The actor had problems with alcoholism and depression in his later years and “stared at a wall for four years”, according to his daughter, who said that he spent a year under section in a psychiatric institution after displaying “psychotic tendencies”.

“When he came out, social services dumped him back in his house and they left him there to rot.

“He wasn't paying his mortgage because he was ill and they were going to repossess his house.

“They sold his house and put the money in the bank because he wasn't mentally fit and he moved to an old people's home.

“Then all of a sudden he snapped out of it about a year ago and he was moved into a flat.”

She added that the ups and downs of life as a jobbing actor had “contributed to his depression”.

“He was troubled most of his life and he struggled with going up and down, but he lived and breathed acting.”

Tributes paid to the actor on Twitter include one from his screenwriter friend Simon Golding, who wrote: “So very sad to hear today the loss of my good friend, actor John Forgeham.

“A larger-than-life character & such a powerful actor. RIP John x.”

 

Filmography

Film

Year     Title            Role            Notes

1969    The Italian Job            Frank  

1973    Adolf Hitler: My Part in His Downfall            Wally  

1976    Spy Story            Security Guard           

One Hour to Zero     Sam Rogers

1984    Sheena            Jorgenson       

1987            L'inchiesta        Marco 

1990    King of the Wind            Blacksmith     

1994            Staggered            Inspector Lubbock     

1997            Remember Me?            Police Inspector         

1999    The Road to Ithaca            Kemal Ahmed

2001    Kiss of the Dragon            Max    

Mean Machine            Charlie Sykes  

2007    Pledge of Allegiance            Mr. Green  

2009    Dead Man Running            Terry Biggs   

2011    The Fencers            Cornel Wilde   Short film

Television

Year     Title            Role            Notes

1961    Spy-Catcher            Jeep Driver            Episode: "Doves of War"

1963    No Hiding Place            Joe Dean            Episode: "Pay As You Earn"

The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre Adrian Marlowe            Episode: "The Partner"

1963-1974            Z Cars            Ted O'Neill/Drew            2 episodes

1964    ITV Play of the Week   Private Elliot            Episode: "Jacko At War"

1965    The Avengers            Beale            Episode: "The Murder Market"

1966    The Idiot     Keller            3 episodes

The Wednesday Play      Fisher            Episode: "Why Aren't You Famous?"

Seven Deadly Sins      Kenny            Episode: "The Erpingham Camp"

Thirteen Against Fate            Victor            Episode: "The Suspect"

1967    The Fellows            Des            2 episodes

1970            Dynasty          Jason Werner            Episode: "Catwalk"

Homicide            Ken Thornton            Episode: "Doris and Daphne"

1971-1972            Catwalk          Saxon Wells    14 episodes

1972    The Stone Tape            Maudsley            Television film

1973    Chaser            Unknown            Television film

The Brothers            Mortimer            Episode: "Errors of Judgement"

1974    Father Brown  Simeon Barnes            Episode: "The Hammer of God"

1975    The Sweeney            Dennis Rawlins            Episode: "The Placer"

Churchill's People  John Morice            Episode: "Mutiny"

1976    The Expert  Warder            Episode: "Fail Safe"

1976-1978            Crossroads: King's Oak     Jim Baines  41 episodes

1980    Tales of the Unexpected            Police Officer            Episode: "The Hitch-Hiker"

Minder George            Episode: "Whose Wife Is It Anyway?"

The Professionals            D.S. Colin            Episode: "Take Away"

Play for Today            Gent at Hospital            Episode: "Number on End"

Shoestring            Terry Bowen            Episode: "Another Man's Castle"

1981    The Incredible Mr Tanner  Mick            Episode: "The Wallet"

Crown Court            Special Constable Copesley            Episode: "Freedom to Incite: Part 1"

Strangers            Red Keegan            Episode: "Soldiers of Misfortune"

Juliet Bravo            Clive Temple            Episode: "Catching Up"

1982    Ivanhoe            Front's Lieutenant            Television film

L for Lester            Alf Bayley  6 episodes

Saturday Night Thriller            Inspector Heneker            Episode: "A Gift of Tongues"

Beau Geste            Sgt. Maj. Lejaune            6 episodes

1983    A Married Man            Detective Inspector Blackett            2 episodes

Give Us a Break   Brindly            2 episodes

1984    Ever Decreasing Circles  Lorry Driver            Episode: "The New Neighbour"

Killer Exposed            Det. Insp. George Hawthorne            Television film

Pope John Paul II          Officer Moljek            Television film

Sakharov            Unknown            Television film

1985    Ties of Blood            Sergeant            Television film

1985-1987            C.A.T.S. Eyes Harry Hopkins/Landlord/Alan Dyer            3 episodes

1986    Duty Free            Sheridan            Episode: "Costa Del Crime"

Lovejoy            Arnold            Episode: "To Sleep No More"

Boon    Lenny Gates            Episode: "For Whom the Chimes Toll"

Prospects            Jock            Episode: "Rodent Engineers"

Big Deal            Manners            Episode: "Following in Father's Footsteps"

1986-1997            Casualty          Steve Meacham/Sgt. Shaw    2 episodes

1987    Y.E.S.            Wensbury            Episode: "Muscle"

Bulman Edwin Gilbert            Episode: "Chinese Whispers"

Pulaski Georgie Fowler            Episode: "Violence, Love and Ratings"

Divided We Stand   Taxi Driver            Episode: "Episode #1.1"

Ernie's Incredible Illucinations            German Officer            Television film

1988            Bergerac          Arnie Spivak            Episode: "Private Fight"

Final Run            McMorris         4 episodes

Casting Off            Tim            4 episodes

Journey's End            Company Sergeant Major            Television film

1988-1997            London's Burning            Elkins/Commander            6 episodes

1989            Storyboard            McPhee            Episode: "Snakes and Ladders"

Nice Work            Brian Everthorpe            4 episodes

Precious Bane            Huglet            Television film

1989-1991            Making Out      Frankie            14 episodes

1990    Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less     Ronnie            Television film

Birds of a Feather C.I.D. Officer            Episode: "Muesli"

This Is David Harper Billy 'Paving Stone' Adams            Episode: "Partners in Crime?"

1991    T. Bag and the Rings of Olympus            Duke of Florence            Episode: "Leonardo"

Screen Two            Hateley            Episode: "The Laughter of God"

Prime Suspect            DCI John Shefford            Episode: "Price to Pay: Part 1"

Chalkface            Gerry Lambert            Episode: "Christmas Cheer"

1991-1998            The Ruth Rendell Mysteries            Pub Landlord/Det. Insp. Baker            5 episodes

1992            Heartbeat        Reg Pendleton            Episode: "Rumours"

1992-1999            The Bill            D.I. Cameron/John Liddle   2 episodes

1993    The Comic Strip Presents...            Sergeant            Episode: "Detectives on the Edge of a Nervous Breakdown"

All in the Game            Freddie Matthews            6 episodes

1994    Pie in the Sky Jack Meynell            Episode: "Endangered Species"

Blue Heaven            Jim Sandford            6 episodes

Pleasure            Police Chief            Television film

Crocodile Shoes   Bernie Marks            Episode: "The Deal"

1996    The Bare Necessities            Big Vinnie            Television film

The Governor            Governor Wrexham            2 episodes

Cold Lazarus            Tramp            Episode: "Episode #1.2"

The Knock            Denny Peters            Episode: "Episode #2.9"

Seed    Julie's Dad            Television film

Family Money            BBC Colleague            Television film

1997    The New Adventures of Robin Hood            Lord Garth            Television film

The Fix Alan Hardaker            Television film

1998    The Echo    Charlie            2 episodes

2002    NCS Manhunt            DS Gordon Bilboe            2 episodes

2002-2004            Footballers' Wives            Frank Laslett  21 episodes

2003    Born and Bred            Lucio Braithwaite            Episode: "A Very Ormston Christmas"

2004    All About Me            Piggott            Episode: "Where There's Blame"

2005    The Last Detective            Bernie Wilson            Episode: "Three Steps to Hendon"

Dream Team            Phil the Stadium Manager            Episode: "Marathon Man"

2007    Rhona's Pantry  Roy            Television series

2012            Doctors           Nigel Whitely            Episode: "Tales of the Rather Expected"