Colin Salmon

Colin Salmon is an English character actor who will appear as General Coburn, a "fiercely loyal military man," in 24: Live Another Day.

Salmon was born in Bethnal Green, London, the son of Sylvia, a nurse. He grew up in Luton and attended Ramridge Primary School and Ashcroft High School. On graduating, Salmon formed a punk rock band, the Friction, with his Ashcroft friends and played around Luton in 1979 and 1980. He also became an accomplished trumpeter, playing with a jazz quartet at venues such as the Dorchester Grill Room and the Cheltenham Jazz Festival.

Salmon made his British television debut in the second series of Prime Suspect opposite Dame Helen Mirren, earning him acclaim among British and American audiences. He has since appeared in numerous TV series in the UK, including Soldier Soldier (1994), Silent Witness (1996), and Tales from the Crypt (1996). Among international audiences, he is best known as MI6 deputy chief Charles Robinson in three James Bond films, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, and Die Another Day (1997-2002), which also featured Robert Carlyle and Michael Madsen. Salmon was long considered a contender to take over the role of James Bond, and reportedly had the support of his co-star Pierce Brosnan.

Salmon is a frequent collaborator with director Paul W.S. Anderson, starring in Resident Evil (2002) and AVP: Alien Vs. Predator (2010, with Tommy Flanagan). In both films, his character is killed after being cut into small criss-crossing chunks. Salmon reprised his Resident Evil role in the 2012 Resident Evil: Retribution.

More recently, Salmon's television roles include Hex (2004-2005), Doctor Who (2008), The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (2008-2009), Strike Back (2010), MI-5 (2010), and Law & Order: UK (2009-2011). Currently, he has a recurring role as Walter Steele in the CW series Arrow, appearing opposite Kevin Alejandro, Paul Blackthorne, Roger Cross, Katrina Law, and Jeffrey Nordling.

Colin Salmon married Fiona Hawthorne in 1988 and the couple has four children, Sasha, Rudi, Eden, and Ben. He is a patron of the African-Caribbean Leukaemeia Trust and the Richard House Children's Hospice, and also serves as an ambassador for the Prince's Trust, among other charity endeavors.

24-related appearances

 * "Jack Is Back" – Salmon appears in behind-the-scenes footage of filming with William Devane and Tate Donovan.