Colin Welland Biography

Fast Facts

• Made his screen acting debut in the TV series "Z Cars," on which he played the character PC David Graham for 16 years
• Worked as an art teacher until the age of 26, when he decided that he wanted to pursue his love of acting before he got married and played the lead in a stage production of Harold Pinter's "The Birthday Party․"
• Best known as a writer and actor who wrote the original screenplay for "Chariots of Fire" and who played Rev․ Barney Hood in "Straw Dogs" and Mr․ Farthing in "Kes․"
• During his acceptance speech for his Academy Award for "Chariots of Fire," he famously waved his statue at the crowd and said "The British are coming!"