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 (1952-03-02) (age 72)
NationalityBritish
OccupationActor/Singer
Years active1976–present[1]
Notable workSee below
TelevisionEastEnders (1985–1991, 1993, 1998, 2000–2001, 2008–2009, 2014–2015)
Spouse
Bridget Poodhun
(m. 1986; div. 1997)
Children1

Early life

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Altman 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

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Altman 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

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In 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

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Films

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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
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

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  1. ^ Altman, John (2016). In the Nick of Time (First ed.). John Blake Publishing Limited. p. 302. ISBN 9781784189952.
  2. ^ Altman, John (30 June 2016). In the Nick of Time – the Autobiography of John Altman, EastEnders' Nick Cotton. ISBN 9781786061959.
  3. ^ Padman, Tony (22 February 2024). "John Altman: I got about £25 last year for repeats of EastEnders". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  4. ^ Altman, John (30 June 2016). In the Nick of Time – the Autobiography of John Altman, EastEnders' Nick Cotton. ISBN 9781786061959.
  5. ^ Public Information Films | 1979 to 2006 | Film index | Stupid Git, John Altman. Nationalarchives.gov.uk. Retrieved on 16 August 2012.
  6. ^ 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
  7. ^ The Victorian shops under Oxford Street, London. Roger J Morgan
  8. ^ Rear of the Year – History Archived 1 December 2012 at archive.today. Rearoftheyearcompetition.com. Retrieved on 16 August 2012.
  9. ^ Beds, Herts and Bucks Theatre – Milton Keynes Theatre – Bouncers – John Altman interview. BBC (13 September 2003). Retrieved on 16 August 2012.
  10. ^ Movie Trailer: "It's Been Real" starring Samantha Fox on YouTube (3 November 2006). Retrieved on 16 August 2012.
  11. ^ "Eastenders baddie Nasty Nick talks about his new band".
  12. ^ "EastEnders Special, The Graham Norton Show – BBC One". BBC. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  13. ^ ::The Speakers Agency – Speakers:: Archived 9 November 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ "LatestNews". johnaltman.info. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ "Television". johnaltman.info. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
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