BORN in 1925, George Cole has been acting since 1939.
Since his acting debut, he has appeared in many films and TV shows, but is best known for playing the lovable entrepreneur, Arthur Daley, in the hit television series Minder.
I recently met the great man at a hotel in Buckinghamshire for a chat. He talked about his career with a lot of affection.
Clearly, he has enjoyed his work just as much as we have.
He now enjoys the quiet life at his home near Henley-on- Thames with his wife, Penny, and their dog, Lincoln. He enjoys doing the crossword in The Times on a daily basis, just like he does while relaxing on set, and he also likes to watch horse racing on TV. I wish I had known earlier, as I would have asked him for a tip for the weekend races.
Christopher Wardell, Darlington.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here