From Who's Who in the Theatre:  Biographical Record of the Contemporary Stage, Vol. I:  Biographies

 by Ian Herbert

Gale Research Co., Michigan, 1981, 7th Ed., Ed.

BOOTH,  James (ne Geeves-Booth), actor

b Croydon, Surrey, 19 Dec 1933; s of Ernest Edward Geeves-Booth and his wife Lilian Alice (Edwardes); e Southend Grammar School; m Paula Delaney; studied for the stage at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.  He made his first appearance on the stage as a member of the Old Vic Company, 1956-7; at the Theatre Royal, Stratford, E., Feb 1958, played Sempronio in Celestina, subsequently appearing at the same theatre in the following productions:  Commentator in Love and Lectures and Giuseppe in The Man of Destiny (double-bill); the IRA Officer in The Hostage; Bob Crachit in The Christmas Carol, 1958; Tosher in Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be; Freewill in The Dutch Courtesan, 1959; Wynham's, June 1959, made his first appearance in the West End, when he again played the IRA Officer in The Hostage; Theatre Royal, Stratford, E, Dec 1959, again played Tosher in Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be, prior to appearing in the same production at the Garrick, Feb 1960; following a run of more than a year, he appeared at the Oxford Playhouse, Sept 1961, as Stanley Castleton in Big Soft Nellie; at the Royal Court, Dec 1961, played Box in Box and Cox, and Eisenring in The Fire Raisers (double-bill); New Arts, Apr 1962, played AC/2 Neville Harrison in Nil Carborundum; Oxford Playhouse, 1962, played Mick in The Caretaker; joined the Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford-on-Avon, Sept 1962, to play Dr. Pinch in The Comedy of Errors, and Edmund in King Lear, Subsequently appearing in both productions at the Aldwych Theatre, Dec 1963; Gaiety, Dublin, Apr 1964, played Murray Burns 9n A Thousand Clowns, subsequently appearing in the same production at the Comedy, London, June 1964; Shaftesbury, Dec 1965, Robin Hood in Twang; Chichester Festival, August 1970, played Face in The Alchemist; for the Welsh Drama Company, Cardiff, autumn 1973, played Osip in The Government Inspector, Kite in The Recruiting Officer and Archie Rice in The Entertainer; Theatre Royal, Stratford E, Jan 1974, Chief-Supt. Craddock in Gentlemen Prefer Anything; for the RSC at Stratford-on-Avon, played Pompey in Measure for Measure, Sept 1974 and appeared in Afore Niught Come, Nov 1974; played Tristan Tzara in their New York production of Travesties, Ethel Barrymore, Oct 1974p repeated the part in Washington DC, Jan 1977; entered films, 1959, and principal pictures include:  The Trials of Oscar Wilde, Sparrers Can't Sing; Robbery, The Bliss of Mrs Blossom, Macho Callaghan, etc; television appearances include:  The Ruffians, The Great Gold Bullion Robbery, The Vessel of Wrath, etc.

Favourite parts:  Those I can relax in.  Recreation: Underwater fishing.  Address:  c/o William Morris Agency (UK) Ltd, 147 Wardour Street, Londfon W1V 3TB.