Tom Bell rose to prominence in
the acting world in the late 1950s and early 60s, the era which saw many
northern actors become major box-office stars. He enjoyed early success in TV
plays, notably Alun Owen's No
Trams To Lime Street [1959] and Harold Pinter's A Night Out [1960]
before breaking into films with a leading role in the much-acclaimed Brian
Forbes' film The
L-Shaped Room [1962]. Whilst he went on to enjoy a long career
with many starring roles critics generally conclude that he never quite lived
up to his early promise and did not aspire to the heights of his northern
contemporaries such as Finney, Bates and Courtney. He gained most recognition
for his TV work and was twice nominated for a BAFTA best actor award, firstly
for the 1978 series Out,
and then for Prime
Suspect.
Tom Bell was born on 2 August 1933, the son of ship's carpenter
George Bell, at 33 Ramsey Road, Allerton, L19. He saw little of his father and was evacuated to Morecambe
during the Second World War where he subsequently went to secondary school. He
died in Brighton in 2006.
