# James Elliott (actor) > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/James_Elliott_(actor) > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/James_Elliott_(actor).md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Elliott_(actor) > Source revision: 1350828753 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Australian actor James Elliott James Elliott as Alf Sutcliffe in Number 96 (TV series) Born James Campbell Elliott[1] (1928-06-11)11 June 1928 Glasgow, Scotland Died 12 February 2011(2011-02-12) (aged 82)[1] Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Other names Jimmy Elliott, Elliott James Occupations Television and film actor theatre performer radio actor Years active 1949-1982, 1999-2008 (as actor) **James Campbell Elliott**[2] (11 June 1928 – 12 February 2011) alternately **James Eliott** and **Elliot James**, was a Scottish-born Australian radio, theatre, television and film actor and tipstaff. Elliott was best known as an original character in the 1970s television [soap opera](/source/Soap_opera) *[Number 96](/source/Number_96_(TV_series))* as Alf Sutcliffe opposite co-star [Elisabeth Kirkby](/source/Elisabeth_Kirkby) who played his wife Lucy Sutcliffe. ## Biography James Campbell Elliott was born in [Glasgow](/source/Glasgow), Scotland the second of 5 children to John Elliott and Katherine Campbell, and grew up in the Kelvinbridge area. He emigrated from Scotland to Australia in December 1949, and took parts in radio plays and serials, and made several guesting parts in drama series including *[Consider Your Verdict](/source/Consider_Your_Verdict)* and *[The Link Men](/source/The_Link_Men)* and played Guildenstern in an ABC TV play of *[Hamlet](/source/Hamlet)*, this being the first Shakespearean drama produced for Australian television. Other Shakespearean roles include Capulet in a theatre version *[Romeo and Juliet](/source/Romeo_and_Juliet)* and a supporting role again at the ABC in *[The Tempest](/source/The_Tempest_(play))*. Elliot appeared in a role in the feature film of *[Ned Kelly](/source/Ned_Kelly_(1970_film))* in 1970 which starred [Mick Jagger](/source/Mick_Jagger) in the title role Elliott was an original cast member of television soap opera *Number 96* as Alf Sutcliffe, which in premiered March 1972. The show became Australia's highest-rated television program in 1973 and 1974. Alf and his wife Lucy ([Elisabeth Kirkby](/source/Elisabeth_Kirkby)) were immigrants from [Yorkshire, England](/source/Yorkshire%2C_England) and Alf was presented as an archetypal "whingeing [Pom](/source/Alternative_words_for_British#Pommy)" who complained constantly about Australia and longing to return to his native England, while proving himself incapable of holding down a regular job. The Sutcliffe's also endured Lucy's series of dramatic health concerns which included a [breast cancer](/source/Breast_cancer) scare, [blindness](/source/Blindness), and an unplanned pregnancy followed by a troubled birth, Alf however proved to be somewhat kind and understanding. In late 1973 the show had a feature film spin-off featuring much of the show's current cast, including both Elliott and Kirkby, reprising their television roles. Despite once describing the serial as "instant television", Elliott played in *Number 96* continuously for almost four years. In October 1975 Alf and Lucy were written out of *Number 96* as part of a drastic remodelling of the show in the wake of declining ratings.[3] Elliott subsequently made guest appearances on Australian drama series such as *[Solo One](/source/Solo_One)* (1976), *[Glenview High](/source/Glenview_High)* (1977), *[Chopper Squad](/source/Chopper_Squad)* (1978), played in three episodes of legal drama *[Case for the Defence](/source/Case_for_the_Defence)* (1978), and later appeared in an episode of crime drama *[Bellamy](/source/Bellamy_(TV_series))* (1981). He also acted in feature films *[Summer City](/source/Summer_City)* (1977), *[Money Movers](/source/Money_Movers)* (1978), *[Little Boy Lost](/source/Little_Boy_Lost_(1978_film))* (1978), *[Lady Stay Dead](/source/Lady_Stay_Dead)* (1981), *[Brothers](/source/Brothers_(1982_film))* (1982). His acting career was put on hold, when he tookma position as a tipstaff from 1982 and 1999 Later resuming his performing career he appeared in television guest appearances in series including *[Home and Away](/source/Home_and_Away)* credited as Elliot James and three episodes of medical drama *[All Saints](/source/All_Saints_(TV_series))*, in 2001 and 2003, and featured in film *Running with the Boys*. in 2008. ## Personal life James Elliott died peacefully from [Dementia with Lewy bodies](/source/Dementia_with_Lewy_bodies) disease on 12 February 2011.[1] He was survived by two sons Greg and Doug with his first wife Mary McDonald whom he married in 1959, and one son James Elliott Jnr. by his second wife Elaine Minchin whom he married in 1980. He was honoured in the "In memorial" section of the [Logie Awards](/source/Logie_Awards) in 2012[4] ## Filmography ### Film Title Year Role Type 1959 Hamlet Guildenstern TV movie The Tempest Supporting role TV movie 1959 Lady in Danger Detective Pogson TV movie 1959 Crime Passionel Ivan TV movie 1961 A Night Out TV movie 1962 Fly by Night Seaman TV movie 1970 Ned Kelly Pat O'Donnell (uncredited cameo) Feature film 1974 Number 96 Alf Sutcliffe Feature film 1977 Summer City Caroline Father Feature film 1978 Money Movers Bengal Lancer Feature film 1978 Little Boy Lost Feature film 1978 Plunge Into Darkness Farmer TV movie 1981 Lady Stay Dead Patrolman Rex Dunbar Feature film 1982 Brothers Reverend Maynard TV movie 2008 Running with Boys Len ### Television Title Year Role Type 1961 Whiplash Ryan TV series 1962 Consider Your Verdict TV series, 1 episode 1963 The Hungry Ones TV miniseries, 10 episodes 1968 Homicide Eric Smith TV series 1970 The Link Men Doctor TV series 1972 The Tony Hancock Special Man in Pub TV series 1972-75 Number 96 Alf Sutcliffe TV series, 174 episodes 1976 Solo One Terry Hood TV series, 1 episode 1977 Glenview High TV series, 1 episode 1978 Chopper Squad Roger TV series 1978 Case for the Defence Detective / Policeman / Crawford TV series, 3 episodes 1980 Water Under the Bridge Preacher TV series 1981 Bellamy Gardner TV series, 1 episode 1999 Home and Away Dr. Doug Chamberlain TV series 2001-03 All Saints Les Davidson / Rex Gordon TV series, 3 episodes ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-smh_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-smh_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-smh_1-2) ["Memorable role coloured career"](https://www.smh.com.au/national/memorable-role-coloured-career-20110406-1d4gr.html). 6 April 2011. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** GILES NIGEL "NUMBER 96: Australia's Most Notorious Address" 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Giles, Nigel (March 2021). *Number 96: Australia's Most Notorious Address*. Melbourne Book. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["James Elliott obituary"](http://televisionau.com/?s=james+elliott). ## External links - [James Elliott](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1653830/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier)) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [James Elliott (actor)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Elliott_(actor)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Elliott_(actor)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.