Acting · Bishop Auckland, County Durham, England, UK · Born January 1, 1938
The Bishop Auckland-born entertainer began as a comic on the North-East club circuit, teaming up with Peter Lambert to become Lambert and Ross, a duo that became nationally known. When the partnership folded in the 1980s, Willie became a successful actor, with hits in film, TV and on stage. His big break was as the foul-mouthed father in the film Rita, Sue and Bob Too. He went on to acclaimed roles in Ken Loachs Riff Raff and Peter Greenaway's The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover. On TV he was seen in Our Friends In The North, and One Foot In The Grave, to name but a few. He died in 2000, following an accident at home. He was 62.
MovieBodywork
2001
as Homeless Man
MovieBlow Dry
2001
as Louis's Volunteer
MoviePurely Belter
2000
as Ginga
MovieSecret Society
2000
as Mr Swanley
Bait
2000
as Hungry Man
MovieHonest
2000
as Woodbine
MovieDoomwatch: Winter Angel
1999
as Mr Fulton
Badger
1999
MovieSwept from the Sea
1998
The End
1998
MovieLoop
1997
as Geordie Trucker
TVThe Ice House
1997
as Wally Ferris
TVBrass Eye
1997
as Sainsbur McManus / Eddie Hazel
MovieHillsborough
1996
as Additional Cast
TVDalziel and Pascoe
1996
as Edwin Sutton
TVOur Friends in the North
1996
as Gordon Peacock
MovieRestoration
1995
as Man with Visible Heart
TVOut of the Blue
1995
as Harry 'The Hat' Pope
MovieA Pinch of Snuff
1994
as Johnnie Hope
TVHeartbeat
1992
as Jonty Walsh
MovieRiff-Raff
1991
as Gus Siddon
TVOne Foot in the Grave
1990
MovieDealers
1989
as Anna's Doorman
MovieThe Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover
1989
as Roy
TVTales from the Crypt
1989
as Barman
MovieAnd a Nightingale Sang
1989
as Harold, the Communist
MovieThe Storyteller: Fearnot
1988
as Tinker
TVThe Storyteller
1988
as Tinker
MovieLucky Sunil
1988
as Beadle
MovieThe Nature of the Beast
1988
as Danny
TVThe Fear
1988
as Motty
MovieTreacle
1987
as First Man
MovieRoad
1987
as Dad
MovieRita, Sue and Bob Too
1987
as Sue's Father
TVThe Bill
1984
TVMinder
1979
as Stan Sorrell
