# John Forgeham

John Henry George Forgeham (14 May 1941 – 10 March 2017) was an English actor known for his television work, notably the role of businessman Frank Laslett in the ITV series Footballers' Wives.

## Early life

Born in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, Forgeham moved to Erdington, Birmingham as a child, and trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) on a two-year scholarship (1962–1964) from where he graduated with a RADA Silver medal for Best Performance student.

## Career
### Stage

Forgeham was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) (from 1966 until 1972) and toured with the company both nationally and internationally. Whilst on tour in Australia he decided to stay longer than anticipated and founded the Globe Shakespeare Theatre in Sydney.

### Television

His many television credits include: The Avengers, Z-Cars, The Stone Tape, Crossroads, The Sweeney, Ivanhoe, Beau Geste, Minder, Footballers' Wives, The Professionals, Shoestring, Juliet Bravo, C.A.T.S. Eyes, Give Us a Break, Lovejoy, Bergerac, The Governor, Pulaski, Making Out, Nice Work, Prime Suspect, London's Burning, Casualty, The Bill, Doctors and as Reg Pendleton in the Heartbeat episode, Rumours.

### Film

Film appearances include: The Italian Job (1969), Adolf Hitler: My Part in His Downfall (1973), Spy Story (1976), Sheena (1984), Pope John Paul II (1984), The Laughter of God (1990), King of the Wind (1990), The Young Americans (1993), Staggered (1994), The Road to Ithaca (1999), Kiss of the Dragon (2001), Mean Machine (2001), Torture Room (2007) and Dead Man Running (2009).

## Later life and death

In 2004 he appeared in the second series of the ITV weight loss show, Celebrity Fit Club. He replaced Freddie Starr as team captain, but was demoted five weeks later, the role being taken by James Whitaker.
Forgeham died suddenly from internal bleeding after breaking a collarbone when falling out of bed at his care home in Worthing, West Sussex on 10 March 2017, at the age of 75.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1969 | The Italian Job | Frank | |
| 1973 | Adolf Hitler: My Part in His Downfall | Wally | |
| 1976 | Spy Story | Security Guard | |
| 1976 | One Hour to Zero | Sam Rogers | |
| 1984 | Sheena | Jorgenson | |
| 1987 | L'inchiesta | Marco | |
| 1990 | King of the Wind | Blacksmith | |
| 1994 | Staggered | Inspector Lubbock | |
| 1997 | Remember Me? | Police Inspector | |
| 1999 | The Road to Ithaca | Kemal Ahmed | |
| 2001 | Kiss of the Dragon | Max | |
| 2001 | Mean Machine | Charlie Sykes | |
| 2007 | Pledge of Allegiance | Mr. Green | |
| 2009 | Dead Man Running | Terry Biggs | |
| 2011 | The Fencers | Cornel Wilde | Short film |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1961 | Spy-Catcher | Jeep Driver | Episode: "Doves of War" |
| 1963 | No Hiding Place | Joe Dean | Episode: "Pay As You Earn" |
| 1963 | The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre | Adrian Marlowe | Episode: "The Partner" |
| 1963–1974 | Z Cars | Ted O'Neill/Drew | 2 episodes |
| 1964 | ITV Play of the Week | Private Elliot | Episode: "Jacko At War" |
| 1965 | The Avengers | Beale | Episode: "The Murder Market" |
| 1966 | The Idiot | Keller | 3 episodes |
| 1966 | The Wednesday Play | Fisher | Episode: "Why Aren't You Famous?" |
| 1966 | Seven Deadly Sins | Kenny | Episode: "The Erpingham Camp" |
| 1966 | Thirteen Against Fate | Victor | Episode: "The Suspect" |
| 1967 | The Fellows | Des | 2 episodes |
| 1970 | Dynasty | Jason Werner | Episode: "Catwalk" |
| 1970 | Homicide | Ken Thornton | Episode: "Doris and Daphne" |
| 1971–1972 | Catwalk | Saxon Wells | 14 episodes |
| 1972 | The Stone Tape | Maudsley | Television film |
| 1973 | Chaser | Unknown | Television film |
| 1973 | The Brothers | Mortimer | Episode: "Errors of Judgement" |
| 1974 | Father Brown | Simeon Barnes | Episode: "The Hammer of God" |
| 1975 | The Sweeney | Dennis Rawlins | Episode: "The Placer" |
| 1975 | Churchill's People | John Morice | Episode: "Mutiny" |
| 1976 | The Expert | Warder | Episode: "Fail Safe" |
| 1976–1978 | Crossroads: King's Oak | Jim Baines | 41 episodes |
| 1980 | Tales of the Unexpected | Police Officer | Episode: "The Hitch-Hiker" |
| 1980 | Minder | George | Episode: "Whose Wife Is It Anyway?" |
| 1980 | The Professionals | D.S. Colin | Episode: "Take Away" |
| 1980 | Play for Today | Gent at Hospital | Episode: "Number on End" |
| 1980 | Shoestring | Terry Bowen | Episode: "Another Man's Castle" |
| 1981 | The Incredible Mr Tanner | Mick | Episode: "The Wallet" |
| 1981 | Crown Court | Special Constable Copesley | Episode: "Freedom to Incite: Part 1" |
| 1981 | Strangers | Red Keegan | Episode: "Soldiers of Misfortune" |
| 1981 | Juliet Bravo | Clive Temple | Episode: "Catching Up" |
| 1982 | Ivanhoe | Front's Lieutenant | Television film |
| 1982 | L for Lester | Alf Bayley | 6 episodes |
| 1982 | Saturday Night Thriller | Inspector Heneker | Episode: "A Gift of Tongues" |
| 1982 | Beau Geste | Sgt. Maj. Lejaune | 6 episodes |
| 1983 | A Married Man | Detective Inspector Blackett | 2 episodes |
| 1983 | Give Us a Break | Brindly | 2 episodes |
| 1984 | Ever Decreasing Circles | Lorry Driver | Episode: "The New Neighbour" |
| 1984 | Killer Exposed | Det. Insp. George Hawthorne | Television film |
| 1984 | Pope John Paul II | Officer Moljek | Television film |
| 1984 | Sakharov | Unknown | Television film |
| 1985 | Ties of Blood | Sergeant | Television film |
| 1985–1987 | C.A.T.S. Eyes | Harry Hopkins/Landlord/Alan Dyer | 3 episodes |
| 1986 | Duty Free | Sheridan | Episode: "Costa Del Crime" |
| 1986 | Lovejoy | Arnold | Episode: "To Sleep No More" |
| 1986 | Boon | Lenny Gates | Episode: "For Whom the Chimes Toll" |
| 1986 | Prospects | Jock | Episode: "Rodent Engineers" |
| 1986 | Big Deal | Manners | Episode: "Following in Father's Footsteps" |
| 1986–1997 | Casualty | Steve Meacham/Sgt. Shaw | 2 episodes |
| 1987 | Y.E.S. | Wensbury | Episode: "Muscle" |
| 1987 | Bulman | Edwin Gilbert | Episode: "Chinese Whispers" |
| 1987 | Pulaski | Georgie Fowler | Episode: "Violence, Love and Ratings" |
| 1987 | Divided We Stand | Taxi Driver | Episode: "Episode #1.1" |
| 1987 | Ernie's Incredible Illucinations | German Officer | Television film |
| 1988 | Bergerac | Arnie Spivak | Episode: "Private Fight" |
| 1988 | Final Run | McMorris | 4 episodes |
| 1988 | Casting Off | Tim | 4 episodes |
| 1988 | Journey's End | Company Sergeant Major | Television film |
| 1988–1997 | London's Burning | Elkins/Commander | 6 episodes |
| 1989 | Storyboard | McPhee | Episode: "Snakes and Ladders" |
| 1989 | Nice Work | Brian Everthorpe | 4 episodes |
| 1989 | Precious Bane | Huglet | Television film |
| 1989–1991 | Making Out | Frankie | 14 episodes |
| 1990 | Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less | Ronnie | Television film |
| 1990 | Birds of a Feather | C.I.D. Officer | Episode: "Muesli" |
| 1990 | This Is David Harper | Billy 'Paving Stone' Adams | Episode: "Partners in Crime?" |
| 1991 | T. Bag and the Rings of Olympus | Duke of Florence | Episode: "Leonardo" |
| 1991 | Screen Two | Hateley | Episode: "The Laughter of God" |
| 1991 | Prime Suspect | DCI John Shefford | Episode: "Price to Pay: Part 1" |
| 1991 | Chalkface | Gerry Lambert | Episode: "Christmas Cheer" |
| 1991–1998 | The Ruth Rendell Mysteries | Pub Landlord/Det. Insp. Baker | 5 episodes |
| 1992 | Heartbeat | Reg Pendleton | Episode: "Rumours" |
| 1992–1999 | The Bill | D.I. Cameron/John Liddle | 2 episodes |
| 1993 | The Comic Strip Presents... | Sergeant | Episode: "Detectives on the Edge of a Nervous Breakdown" |
| 1993 | All in the Game | Freddie Matthews | 6 episodes |
| 1994 | Pie in the Sky | Jack Meynell | Episode: "Endangered Species" |
| 1994 | Blue Heaven | Jim Sandford | 6 episodes |
| 1994 | Pleasure | Police Chief | Television film |
| 1994 | Crocodile Shoes | Bernie Marks | Episode: "The Deal" |
| 1996 | The Bare Necessities | Big Vinnie | Television film |
| 1996 | The Governor | Governor Wrexham | 2 episodes |
| 1996 | Cold Lazarus | Tramp | Episode: "Episode #1.2" |
| 1996 | The Knock | Denny Peters | Episode: "Episode #2.9" |
| 1996 | Seed | Julie's Dad | Television film |
| 1996 | Family Money | BBC Colleague | Television film |
| 1997 | The New Adventures of Robin Hood | Lord Garth | Television film |
| 1997 | The Fix | Alan Hardaker | Television film |
| 1998 | The Echo | Charlie | 2 episodes |
| 2002 | NCS Manhunt | DS Gordon Bilboe | 2 episodes |
| 2002–2004 | Footballers' Wives | Frank Laslett | 21 episodes |
| 2003 | Born and Bred | Lucio Braithwaite | Episode: "A Very Ormston Christmas" |
| 2004 | All About Me | Piggott | Episode: "Where There's Blame" |
| 2005 | The Last Detective | Bernie Wilson | Episode: "Three Steps to Hendon" |
| 2005 | Dream Team | Phil the Stadium Manager | Episode: "Marathon Man" |
| 2007 | Rhona's Pantry | Roy | Television series |
| 2012 | Doctors | Nigel Whitely | Episode: "Tales of the Rather Expected" |