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Nicholas Ball

Nicholas Ball

Actor · Died June 6, 2024, aged 78 · Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England

Nicholas Ball was an English actor best known for playing the title role of James Hazell in the television series Hazell. His film credits included roles in D-Day drama Overlord, Hobe Tooper's sci-fi horror Lifeforce and Mike Hodges' Croupier. In later years Ball played violent gangster Terry Bates in EastEnders between 2007 and 2009 and Garry Ryan in series five of Footballers' Wives and both series of its spin-off programme Footballers' Wives: Extra Time.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 11, 1946
Died
June 6, 2024 (aged 78)
From
Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England
Works as
Actor
Titles
23 on MovieCove · 57 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 39 days to Oct 28Down 29% in 30 days

What are Nicholas Ball's films like?

Across their 9 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Self.

Genres

Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 38th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 22nd percentile
: browse their Horror movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Survival
42%
Self
29%
Morality
26%
Ideas
3%
Survival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition2 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 9 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 1 · Serious 1 · Dark 7

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 4 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 2

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 1 · Charged 6 · Intense 2

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 3 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 0

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 7 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 1

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 7 · Even-paced 2 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

A split, not a type: Casual 4 · Engaged 2 · Full focus 3

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 4 · Affecting 3 · Heavy 2

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 5 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

6 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 2 of 6 analyzed roles.

Ally
2 of 6
Shadow
2 of 6
Threshold guardian
1 of 6
Mentor
1 of 6

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
9
Dread
4
Contemplative
3
Melancholic
3
Absurd
2
Other
2

How their films linger

Unsettling6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy1
  • Bittersweet2
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous4

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Nicholas Ball's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 19 of their 23 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Prime Video (13).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Nicholas Ball's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

57 credits, 23 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • The Kingdom by the Sea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Ray

  • A New Breed of Criminal(2023)

    as Charlie Kray

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Trafficking(2023)

    as David Willis

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • The Haunting of Pendle Hill(2022)

    as Uncle Alfred

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Pentagram(2019)

    as Mr Halsey

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Muse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Mr. Williams

  • The Krays: Dead Man Walking (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Harry Webster

  • Doom Room (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Man

  • Fifteen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Mr. Allen

  • Peter(2011)

    as Martin Clement

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Dead Man Running(2009)

    as Fight Bookie

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Sisterhood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Jack

  • Mutant Chronicles(2008)

    as Plutocrat

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Norfolk Coast (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Tucker

  • Footballers' Wives: Extra Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 30 episodes · Actor

  • Hustle(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Frank Rice

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • The Commander (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 4 episodes · as John Dawson

  • Footballers' Wives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 6 episodes · as Garry Ryan

  • The Coral Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 4 episodes · as Pirate Captain

  • Urban Gothic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr Dimes

  • Out of Depth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Lenny

  • The Manor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Sir Everett Blake

  • Croupier(1998)

    as Jack Snr.

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 3 episodes · as Larry Lockton

  • Jonathan Creek(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Vincent Rees

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Pie in the Sky(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as DCI Doggett

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • Perfect Gift (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Sheffield

  • Acapulco H.E.A.T.(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Derek Perkins

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all shows

  • Heartbeat(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Charlie Fenton · as Gregory Flambard

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Cluedo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Hall

  • Colin's Sandwich (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 6 episodes · as Alan Hunter

  • Red Dwarf(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as Simulant

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Running Out of Luck(1985)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Claudia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Howard

  • Lifeforce(1985)

    as Roger Derebridge

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • A.D. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 5 episodes · as Römischer Offizier

  • Video Stars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Bob

  • Nelly's Version (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Inspector Leach

  • Spooky (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Danny Roberts

  • The Young Ones(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Jim Morrison

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Bergerac(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Hardaker

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Sorry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Terry

  • Life for Christine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Colin

  • Hammer House of Horror(1980)

    Show 1 episode · as William

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Thicker Than Water (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as John Arnott

  • Tales of the Unexpected(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Ken Johnson

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?(1978)

    as Skeffington

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Hazell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 22 episodes · as James Hazell

  • Rogue Male(1976)

    as 2nd Seaman

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Picture of Dorian Gray (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as James Vane

  • The Crezz (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 12 episodes · as Colin Pitman

  • Overlord(1975)

    as Arthur

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Ben Spray (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Geoff

  • Play for Today (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as John Arnott · as Terry

  • Confession (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Karl

  • ITV Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Philip

  • BBC Play of the Month (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as James Vane

Career shape

Star power in the 87th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 57 titles from 1965 to 2024; peak year 1984.

Biggest box office

Lifeforce (1985)

$12M worldwide

Highest rated

Overlord (1975)

Midcredits 84th

Most popular right now

Lifeforce (1985)

Film career

19652024

Peak 1984 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting57 of 57: 57 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score51st

By decade

1960s2 · acting1970s10 · acting1980s15 · acting1990s9 · acting2000s11 · acting2010s6 · acting2020s4 · acting

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 0% of 7 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Nicholas Ball's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 41st percentile, the median of all 13; across their 9 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 17th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

17thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Approval · how many liked their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Reach · how many have seen their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Midcredits score across 23 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up7
  • 50th to 74th5
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

9 of their 23 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Universally Panned1
  • Loved with Detractors1
  • Divisive2
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser9
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · actor

A New Breed of Criminal (2023)

93rd percentile spread · 28% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Overlord (1975)

Midcredits 84th · 70% liked

Reviewers score the acting 42/100 in their films, across 8 reviewed titles; fans 62, detractors 26. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Nicholas Ball work with?

People who share at least 2 of Nicholas Ball's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Richard John Taylor shares the most, 4.

Directors

Actors

Cinematographers

Producers

Mixed roles