David Cook (born 21st September 1940 in Preston, died 16th September 2015 in Warwickshire) appeared in Coronation Street in two similar roles in the 1960s: firstly in October 1962 as Billy Whittaker, who taunted residents over the kidnapping of Christopher Hewitt; and he returned to the programme in June 1966 as Colin, one of two lads who caused trouble at a dance at the Glad Tidings Mission Hall, threatening Ena Sharples and Lucille Hewitt.
He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art from 1959 to 1961 and his first role was in the 1962 film adaptation of A Kind of Loving. He has since appeared in The Plane Makers, The Power Game, several roles in Z Cars, Crime of Passion, Catweazle, Man at the Top, The Famous Five, The Agatha Christie Hour, All Creatures Great and Small, The Bill and Doctors.
He was the first presenter of the children's series Rainbow in 1972 and since the early 1970s, has been a writer of novels and drama including episodes of Couples (which he also starred in), Television Club, Heartland, Walter and it sequels, Weekend Playhouse and both created and wrote for Hetty Wainthropp Investigates, starring Patricia Routledge.
On stage, he appeared in productions of A Lily in Little India, The Creeper, Andorra, The Hostage, The Government Inspector, Strife, Country Matters, All in Good Time and The Corn is Green.
