James Coombes (actor)
James Coombes (born 8 October 1956 in Newport, Monmouthshire[1]) is a British actor with a number of television and theatre credits to his name. He was educated at Glasllwch Primary School and then Duffryn High School. He trained as an actor at the Birmingham School of Speech and Drama from 1975–78. He is best known for his roles as Pierre Challon during the final series of the BBC drama Howards' Way, and Grendel in HTV's Robin of Sherwood. He was also the iconic Milk Tray Man in the eighties' tv adverts. He also appeared as Paroli in the 1984 Doctor Who serial Warriors of the Deep and provided the voice of the Krargs in Shada. He has appeared in many films including Murder with Mirrors co-starring with Bette Davis and Helen Hayes and played Richard Gere's son, Amnon, in the Bible epic, King David. He also played Sir Lancelot in the Disney film, A Knight in Camelot with Whoopi Goldberg. Other films include, Monarch, with T. P. McKenna and Jean Marsh written and directed by John Walsh.
He has worked extensively in the theatre including seasons at Chichester Festival, Pitlochry Festival, Bristol Old Vic, London Young Vic, Ludlow Festival, Coventry, Southampton Nuffield, Birmingham Rep, Chapter Arts in Cardiff with Sgript Cymru, UK tour of A Study in Scarlet" playing Sherlock Holmes, and Scarborough for Sir Alan Ayckbourn
Other credits include: Minder on the Orient Express', "The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady", Capital City, US miniseries Napoleon and Josephine, Boon, "The Kenny Everett Show", Drop the Dead Donkey,Saracen, Heartbeat, Bugs, Holby City, Starhunter, The Bill, My Family and Dinosapien He also appeared as the iconic Milk Tray Man in the eighties.He recently appeared in a UK and Ireland tour of "Dirty Dancing", playing Dr. Jake Houseman following runs at the Piccadilly Theatre, and the Phoenix Theatre, London. He has just finished filming for "Knightfall" to be aired shortly on History Channel.
As well as acting, he tutors regularly at the Academy of Creative Training in Brighton and guest directs at Arts Ed musical theatre school, London. He has recently attained a BA Hons in performance studies from Arts Educational, London, in conjunction with City University.