Arthur Daley Obituary

George Cole was a British actor best known for playing Arthur Daley in the long-running ITV comedy-drama show Minder and Flash Harry in the early St Trinian’s films.

Despite starring in other movies, George Cole’s best-remembered television role was as the crooked used-car dealer Arthur Daley in the popular and successful Thames Television series Minder, which he played from 1979 till the show’s conclusion in 1994.

Prior to this, Cole had played a struggling writer in the BBC sitcom Don’t Forget To Write! (1977–79).

Although Cole is most associated with the character of Arthur Daley, it was one which produced mixed emotions in him, describing variously his support for the character as well as citing in his autobiography how much he loathed the type of person Daley was.

Cole also played Sir Giles Lynchwood in the BBC’s adaptation of the Tom Sharpe novel Blott on the Landscape (1985).

Cole starred in a number of comedies, such as The Bounder (1982–83), Comrade Dad (1984–86), Dad (1997–98) and My Good Friend (1995–96).

Cole appeared in a New Tricks (BBC), series 4 Episode 5 “Powerhouse” (2007) and the Midsomer Murders episode Shot at Dawn (2008).

George Cole, who played the role of Arthur Daley died at the age of 90 on 5 August 2015 at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading, Berkshire, after a short illness and his funeral took place at Reading Crematorium on 13 August 2015.