John Altman (born 2 March 1952) is an English actor, perhaps best known for playing "Nasty" Nick Cotton in the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders. Career Altman was born in Reading, Berkshire. He made his acting debut in the 1979 film The First Great Train Robbery playing a minor role. Later that same year he played musician George Harrison in the biopic TV movie Birth of the Beatles. He made brief appearances in several other popular films including Quadrophenia and An American Werewolf in London. Altman also featured in a 1982 short public information film, "Stupid Git",http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/films/1979to2006/filmpage_stupid.htm part of the British government's campaign against drink-driving. He then became famous for playing Nick Cotton in the BBC television soap opera EastEnders. He appeared in the first episode of the soap on 19 February 1985, being a semi