Nicolas Coster
Nicolas Dwynn Coster (born December 3, 1933) is a British actor,[1] most known for his work in daytime drama and as a character actor on nighttime television series, such as Buck Rogers in the 25th Century and Star Trek: The Next Generation. In 2017, he won a daytime Emmy for "The Bay".
Nicolas Coster | |
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Coster in 1975 | |
Born | Nicolas Dwynn Coster December 3, 1933 London, England |
Alma mater | Royal Academy of Dramatic Art |
Occupation | Actor, scuba instructor |
Years active | 1953-present |
Spouse(s) | |
Children | 2 |
Life and career
Coster was born in London to an American mother and a New Zealand father who was a London theatre critic and marine commander.[1] Coster was raised in the United States, primarily in California.[2]
Coster returned to England to study acting at the Royal Academy of the Dramatic Art.[2] He also studied acting with Lee Strasberg in New York City. Coster was in Twigs with Sadia Thompson, Seesaw with Michele Lee, Otherwise Engaged with Tom Courtenay,[3] and Little Foxes with Elizabeth Taylor, which was staged on Broadway and the Victoria Theatre in London.[1]
Coster appeared in the NBC soap opera Young Doctor Malone. He created the role of Professor Paul Britton on The Secret Storm, a role he played in 1964 and from 1967 to 1968. He played John Eldridge in the primetime serialized drama Our Private World and on As the World Turns. His first appearance on television was an episode of The U.S. Steel Hour in 1959. Coster has appeared more than 80 times on 36 television shows, most notably in the role of David Warner, the father of character Blair Warner, on the sitcom The Facts of Life.
Coster created the role of Robert Delaney on Somerset in March 1970 and later moved to Another World playing the same character. He played gangster-turned-informant Anthony Makana on One Life to Live, but left that series to create the role of Lionel Lockridge on Santa Barbara. He played kidnapper Steve Andrews on the ABC soap opera All My Children and returned to Another World for its 25th anniversary in 1989. He returned to his role on Santa Barbara in 1990 until the show was canceled in January 1993. He appeared on As the World Turns from 1993–1995.
Personal life
Coster is a scuba diving instructor and maintains a foundation that organizes sailing trips and teaches scuba diving for people who are disabled. Coster has a captain's license.[4] Coster married actress Candace Hilligoss (divorced 1981), with whom he has two children.[1][2]
Selected film roles
- Titanic (1953) - Seaman (uncredited)
- The Desert Rats (1953) - Medic (uncredited)
- Sea of Lost Ships (1953) - Cadet Wilson (uncredited)
- The Outcast (1954) - Asa Polsen
- The Black Shield of Falworth (1954) - Humphrey, Young Squire (uncredited)
- The Eternal Sea (1955) - Student (uncredited)
- City of Shadows (1955) - Roy Fellows
- Light Fantastic (1964)
- My Blood Runs Cold (1965) - Harry Lindsay
- The Sporting Club (1971) - James Quinn
- 1776 (1972) - South Carolina Delegate (uncredited)
- All the President's Men (1976) - Markham
- Ebony, Ivory & Jade (1976) - Linderman
- MacArthur (1977) - Colonel Huff
- The Court-Martial George Armstrong Custer (1977) - Gen. Philip Sheridan
- The Big Fix (1978) - Spitzler
- Slow Dancing in the Big City (1978) - David Fillmore
- The Word (1978, TV Mini-Series) - Peter Ajemian
- A Fire in the Sky (1978, TV Movie) - Governor
- The Solitary Man (1979 TV Movie) - Bud Henson
- Goldengirl (1979) - US Olympic Team Doctor
- Just You and Me, Kid (1979) - Harris
- The Concorde ... Airport '79 (1979) - Dr. Stone
- The Electric Horseman (1979) - Fitzgerald
- Little Darlings (1980) - Mr. Whitney
- The Hunter (1980) - Poker Player (uncredited)
- Why Would I Lie? (1980) - Walter
- Stir Crazy (1980) - Warden Henry Sampson
- The Pursuit of D.B. Cooper (1981) - Avery
- Reds (1981) - Paul Trullinger
- The Day the Bubble Burst (1982 TV Movie)
- M.A.D.D.: Mother Against Drunk Drivers (1983 TV Movie) - Maurice Carver
- Princess Daisy (1983 TV Movie) - Matty Firestone
- Beverly Hills Madam (1986) - Uncle Edgar
- Big Business (1988) - Hunt Shelton
- How I Got into College (1989) - Dr. Phillip Jellinak, Sr.
- Incident at Dark River (1989 TV Movie) - Mr. Gorman
- Betsy's Wedding (1990) - Harry Lovell
- By Dawn's Early Light (1990 TV Movie) - General Renning
- Natural Selection (1994)
- Full Circle (1996 TV Movie) - Arthur
- Hearts Adrift (1996 TV Movie) - Harry Winslow
- Freedom Strike (1998) - Adm. Torrance
- Love Happens (1999) - Charles
- Blood Type (1999) - Bum Joe
- The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood (2000, TV Movie) - Ezra Bushmaster
- Plot 7 (2007) - Mr. Stewart
- Race (2008) - Jack Gibson
- Family of Four (2009) - Dr. Wallace
- Flower Girl (2009 TV Movie) - Gavin Green
- Cold Turkey (2013) - Steve Utley
- Dancing on a Dry Salt Lake (2013) - Dr. Woodley
- The Southside (2015) - Mr. Bradshaw
- Chemical Cut (2016) - Veteran
- A Winter Rose (2016) - Drunk
References
- "Nicolas Coster Biography (1934-)". www.filmreference.com. Retrieved January 29, 2018.
- "'Another World' – Cast". The Daily Standard. Sikeston, Missouri. April 26, 1974. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
- Barnes, Clive (February 3, 1977). "Wickedly Intelligent Humor Enhances 'Otherwise Engaged'". The New York Times.
- "Nicolas Coster Challenge Foundation". challengesfoundation.org. Retrieved August 6, 2015.