John Clarkson Stewart (born 2 March 1952), known as John Altman, is an English actor and singer, perhaps best known for playing Nick Cotton in the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders. He was among the show's original cast members appearing in the first episode in February 1985 and appeared on the show on and off as a recurring character. His character was killed off in the 30th anniversary episode of the show which aired in February 2015. Altman has also appeared in several films, television series and stage productions. In 2010, he became the new frontman of the band Heavy Metal Kids following the death of former frontman Gary Holton in 1985.
John Altman | |
|---|---|
 John Altman in 2014 | |
| Born | John Clarkson Stewart 2 March 1952 (age 72) Reading, Berkshire, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Actor/Singer |
| Years active | 1976–present[1] |
| Notable work | See below |
| Television | EastEnders (1985–1991, 1993, 1998, 2000–2001, 2008–2009, 2014–2015) |
| Spouse |
Bridget Poodhun
(m. 1986; div. 1997) |
| Children | 1 |
Early life
editAltman was born in Reading, Berkshire, elder son of Cecil Clarkson Stewart (1921–1995), a first-class clerk at the Bank of England, and Tina Florence (1920–2016), daughter of actor Johnnie Schofield. He and his younger brother William were raised at Herne Bay, Kent.[2][3]
Career
editAltman made his acting debut in the 1979 film The First Great Train Robbery where he played a minor role. Also in 1979, he portrayed musician George Harrison in the biographical television film Birth of The Beatles. He made brief appearances in several other films including Quadrophenia (1979), An American Werewolf in London (1981) and Memoirs of a Survivor (1981). In 1980, Altman worked as a model in creating prototypes of the Hawkmen that appear in the Dino De Laurentiis–produced film, Flash Gordon[4] but did not appear in the film itself. In 1982, Altman played the role of a Royal Navy rating alongside Timothy Spall in the Channel 4 film Remembrance. Altman also featured in a 1982 short public information film, "Stupid Git",[5] part of the British government's campaign against drink-driving.
In 1985, he began appearing as Nick Cotton in the new BBC television soap opera EastEnders, appearing in the first episode on 19 February that year. Altman was axed from the show the following year after Executive Producer Julia Smith told writers to 'write him out' of the show after he opposed a decision to make his character gay.[6] However, he went on to make recurring appearances on the show over a span of nearly 30 years. He has had a major role in many famous storylines in the show including the murders of Reg Cox (whose body was found in the first episode) and Eddie Royle, his attempt to kill his own mother Dot by poisoning her and his various feuds with characters including Pete Beale, Den Watts and Mark Fowler. He also contributed towards the death of his own son Ashley by sabotaging a motorbike which Ashley ended up stealing and crashing.
His character was also given his own television spin-off episode titled Return of Nick Cotton which was completely centred on his character and aired in October 2000.
In 2015, his character was killed off in the episode that aired on 13 February 2015 and he made his final appearance as a corpse in the episode that marked the 30th anniversary of the show on 19 February 2015. His body was found in the same way as his victim Reg Cox was found in the first episode 30 years earlier. A year earlier, his character's death had been announced in the show, only for it to emerge within a few months that Nick had faked his own death.
In 1991, he played Thomas De Quincey in Malcolm Mclaren's 'The Ghosts of Oxford Street', where he appeared outside a purported subterranean 'Boots Apothecary', the origin of an urban myth that there is a parallel abandoned Victorian shopping street 'under' Oxford Street, London. This was actually the under-pavement storage vaults of 20-22 Stratford Place.[7]
Away from television, he also appeared in an adult pantomime, which released on video in 1994 titled Pussy in Boots. In the pantomime he appeared alongside fellow EastEnders cast members Mike Reid and Barbara Windsor. In 2001 he won the Rear of the Year Award alongside Claire Sweeney.[8] In the same year he also performed in the Leiber and Stoller tribute evening at the Hammersmith Apollo, singing Trouble, originally performed by Elvis Presley.
In 2002, he toured around the UK playing Billy Flynn in the long-running musical Chicago. He also appeared in the John Godber written stage play Bouncers opposite fellow soap actor Nigel Pivaro, who is best known for playing a similar style of character, Terry Duckworth in Coronation Street. Both Terry and Nick are the sons of long-running established characters, both are estranged from their mothers, both have committed criminal acts and both have made sporadic appearances on their respective shows.[9]
In 2004, he made an appearance in the comedy sketch series Bo' Selecta! as his EastEnders character. In 2006, Altman was set to appear in an upcoming British film called It's Been Real, the trailer can be seen on YouTube.[10] It still has yet to be released in cinemas. John Altman also appeared on 18 July 2009 episode of Totally Saturday by climbing out of the boot of a car.
In August 2010, he joined a band called Heavy Metal Kids.[11] From late 2010, until early 2011, Altman appeared in adverts for Daz along with actors (Michael Starke and Amanda Barrie), from rival soap opera Coronation Street. In February 2011, he appeared on Live from Studio Five. In January 2012, he appeared as one of the first five couples in the third series of Celebrity Coach Trip partnering fellow actor Derek Martin.
In February 2015, he appeared as a guest on The Graham Norton Show as part of an EastEnders special episode alongside June Brown, Adam Woodyatt, Letitia Dean, Danny Dyer, Kellie Bright, Shane Richie, Jessie Wallace and Pam St. Clement.[12]
In February 2017, he appeared in June Brown at 90 – A Walford Legend, a special BBC documentary that aired to celebrate June Brown's 90th birthday.
In April 2020, he appeared with 7 other celebrities in the 4th series of the BBC travel documentary series The Real Marigold Hotel, filmed in Pondicherry, India.
Personal life
editIn 1986, Altman married Bridgette Poodhun. They divorced in 1997. He has one daughter.[13]
Altman released his autobiography, In the Nick of Time, which was published on 30 June 2016.[14]
Filmography
editFilms
edit| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| TBA | I am Khama | Rev. William Willoughby (voice) | Pre-production |
| TBA | 1066 | Earl Leofric | pre-production |
| 2020 | Sphere of Fear 2 | Demon Football (voice) | |
| 2019 | Lucas and Albert | Charlie | |
| 2017 | Is This Now | Johnny | |
| 2016 | Essex Vendetta | Marine Police Officer | |
| 2016 | Perfect Break | Michael | |
| 2015 | My Lonely Me | Tom | |
| 2009 | Photo Shoot | Wayne Wilson | |
| 2006 | The Insane | John Vincent Narration | Short Film |
| 1969 | Matt | Short Film | |
| 2005 | Hell to Pay | Policeman | |
| It Could Be You | Tony Mantana | ||
| 1994 | To Die For | Dogger | |
| 1993 | The Higher Mortals | Mr. Thomas | |
| 1983 | Return of the Jedi | Rebel Pilot | Uncredited |
| 1982 | Remembrance | Steve | |
| 1981 | Memoirs of a Survivor | Gerald's Courtier | |
| An American Werewolf in London | Assorted Police | ||
| 1979 | Birth of the Beatles | George Harrison | |
| Quadrophenia | John | ||
| The First Great Train Robbery | First Pickpocket |
TV
edit| Year | TV Show | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Good Morning Britain | Himself | Paying tribute to June Brown |
| 2020 | The Real Marigold Hotel | Himself | |
| 2017 | June Brown at 90 – A Walford Legend[15] | Himself | One Off Special Documentary |
| 2015 | The British Soap Awards 2015 | Himself | |
| 2015 | The Graham Norton Show | Himself | 1 episode |
| 2014–2016 | Lorraine[16] | Himself | 2 Episodes: 15 December 2014/30 June 2016 |
| 2012 | Pointless Celebrities | Himself | 1 episode (S03E03) |
| 2012 | Celebrity Coach Trip | Himself | |
| 2011 | Live from Studio Five | Himself | 1 episode |
| 2010 | Fern Britton Meets | Himself | 1 episode : June Brown |
| The Wright Stuff | Himself – Guest Panelist | 1 episode: Episode No.14.52 | |
| EastEnders: The Murders of Lucas Johnson | Himself | One Off Special Documentary | |
| Loose Women | Himself | 1 episode: Episode No.14.141 | |
| EastEnders: The Greatest Cliffhangers | Himself | 3 episodes | |
| 2007–2010 | The Weakest Link | Himself | 2 episodes: Goodies and Baddies/'EastEnders' Special 3 |
| 2009 | The Alan Titchmarsh Show | Himself | 1 episode |
| Hole in the Wall | Himself | 1 episode | |
| Totally Saturday | Himself | 1 episode | |
| The British Soap Awards 2009 | Himself | ||
| The Podge and Rodge Show | Himself | 1 episode | |
| 2008 | EastEnders: Comebacks | Himself | One Off Special Documentary |
| GMTV | Himself | 1 episode | |
| EastEnders: Whodunnits | Himself | One Off Special Documentary | |
| 2007 | No. 1 Soap Fan | Himself | |
| Granada Reports | Himself | 1 episode | |
| Soapstar Superchef | Himself | 2 episodes | |
| 2005 | Balamory | Mick Morris | 1 episode : The Game Show |
| 2004 | 100 Greatest Christmas Moments | Himself | TV documentary |
| Win, Lose or Draw Late | Himself | 2 episodes | |
| Simply the Best | Himself | 1 episode: Episode No.1.5 | |
| Celebrity Fear Factor UK | Himself | 1 episode: Episode No.1.1 | |
| Bo' Selecta | Nick Cotton | 1 episode: Episode No.3.4 | |
| 2003 | EastEnders: Christmas Party | Himself | TV film |
| Loose Lips | Himself | 1 episode | |
| 2002 | Kelly | Himself | 1 episode |
| Top Ten | Himself | 1 episode: Soap Queens | |
| 2001 | Liquid News | Himself | 1 episode |
| 2000 | EastEnders: The Return of Nick Cotton | Nick Cotton | (TV film) |
| 1998 | Lenny Goes to Town | Unknown Role | 1 episode : Cambridge |
| 1997 | Adam's Family Tree | Angus the Caveman | 1 episode: I'm the Urban Caveman |
| 1996 | Chef! | Pianist | 1 episode : Lessons in Talking |
| The Famous Five | Simmy | 1 episode: Five Fall into Adventure | |
| Cold Lazarus | Restaurant Policeman | 1 episode: Episode No.1.1 | |
| 1995–1996 | Blackhearts in Battersea | Midwink | 6 episodes |
| 1994 | Pussy in Boots | The Wicked Giant | TV: Mike Reid Live |
| 1992 | Noel's House Party | Nick Cotton | 1 episode: Episode No.1.13 |
| 1991 | The Ghosts of Oxford Street | Thomas De Quincey | TV |
| The Adventures of Scragtag and Toddles, Ace Detectives | Unknown Role | TV series | |
| 1990 | The Paradise Club | Eddie | 1 episode: Rock and Roll Roulette |
| 1985–2015 | EastEnders | Nick Cotton | Series regular, 1985–1991, 1993, 1998, 2000–2001, 2008–2009, 2014–2015 (277 episodes) |
| 1984 | Minder | Cabbie | 1 episode: The Car Lot Baggers |
| 1983 | Pictures | Lance Repton | 1 episode: Episode No.1.1 |
| 1982 | The New Adventures of Lucky Jim | Vic Slater | 1 episode: The Apartment |
| Play for Today | Young man on tube | 1 episode: Life After Death |
References
edit- ^ Altman, John (2016). In the Nick of Time (First ed.). John Blake Publishing Limited. p. 302. ISBN 9781784189952.
- ^ Altman, John (30 June 2016). In the Nick of Time – the Autobiography of John Altman, EastEnders' Nick Cotton. ISBN 9781786061959.
- ^ Padman, Tony (22 February 2024). "John Altman: I got about £25 last year for repeats of EastEnders". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
- ^ Altman, John (30 June 2016). In the Nick of Time – the Autobiography of John Altman, EastEnders' Nick Cotton. ISBN 9781786061959.
- ^ Public Information Films | 1979 to 2006 | Film index | Stupid Git, John Altman. Nationalarchives.gov.uk. Retrieved on 16 August 2012.
- ^ John Altman, AKA Eastender's Nasty Nick: It's almost like the Taliban. You can't say what you like., GB News, 13 Sep 2021
- ^ The Victorian shops under Oxford Street, London. Roger J Morgan
- ^ Rear of the Year – History Archived 1 December 2012 at archive.today. Rearoftheyearcompetition.com. Retrieved on 16 August 2012.
- ^ Beds, Herts and Bucks Theatre – Milton Keynes Theatre – Bouncers – John Altman interview. BBC (13 September 2003). Retrieved on 16 August 2012.
- ^ Movie Trailer: "It's Been Real" starring Samantha Fox on YouTube (3 November 2006). Retrieved on 16 August 2012.
- ^ "Eastenders baddie Nasty Nick talks about his new band".
- ^ "EastEnders Special, The Graham Norton Show – BBC One". BBC. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
- ^ ::The Speakers Agency – Speakers:: Archived 9 November 2006 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "LatestNews". johnaltman.info. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
- ^ Metro.co.uk, Sarah Deen for (14 February 2017). "Dot Cotton reunited with EastEnders co-star Nasty Nick for June Brown's birthday". Metro. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
- ^ "Television". johnaltman.info. Retrieved 16 February 2017.