Biography

Served as a captain in the British army before becoming an actor.

After serving in the British Army and operating a business in Southend, Booth trained at RADA and then acted on stage at the Old Vic. He first came to prominence as a member of Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop in 1959, appearing in "Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be". Booth subsequently joined the Royal Shakespeare Company and appeared on screen from 1960, specialising in either happy-go-lucky, or embittered, cockney roles. He also pursued a successful career in the U.S. as a screenwriter and script doctor, after the collapse of his property business in 1976 left him bankrupt.

Turned down Michael Caine's role in Alfie (1966).

In Sparrows Can't Sing (1963) When Charlie(James Booth) sees Maggie's (Barbara Windsor) baby in the pram he says 'Look at that expression, that is definitely my baby'. He's telling the truth as it is his own daughter Sarah.

Apart from appearing in the film Pray For Death (1985) he also wrote the screenplay.