John Mark Cocks (23 August 1966 – 6 February 2019), also known as 'Cocksy', was a New Zealand celebrity builder and television presenter. He was most notable for working on the My House My Castle[1] series in the 1990s for New Zealand's TV2.[2] Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, Cocks was a prominent face on New Zealand television as Cocksy, New Zealand's favourite tradesman.

John Mark 'Cocksy' Cocks
Born(1966-08-23)23 August 1966
Died6 February 2019(2019-02-06) (aged 52)
NationalityNew Zealand
OccupationCelebrity Builder
Years active1998–2019
Spouse
Dana Coote
(m. 2017⁠–⁠2019)
Children3

Television career

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Hamish Dodd, Cocks and Robert Harte on My House My Castle in 2009

Cocks started his career in television in the late 1990s. His prominent role on television is a builder and renovator, though he has worked on other projects that are not related to building in his career.[3] One of the earliest TV shows that he appeared on was April's Angels. He appeared on this show alongside April Ieremia in 1998.[3] After this Cocks then started appearing on the popular New Zealand home renovation TV show My House My Castle as the building consultant and builder.[4] This show ran from 1999 until 2009.

During the early 2000s, Cocks also appeared on several reality shows including City Celebrity Country Nobody and Celebrity Treasure Island to which he won on Season One of the show.[5][6]

Cocks was also the voice and face of the Carters Building Supplies commercials in the early 2000s. Cocks appeared on television again in 2013 for the TV show How Did You Do That?[7] alongside Amy Schaeffer and later in 2015 on My Dream Room: Kids Edition with television and radio host Mel Homer.

Television work

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Personal life

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In June 2017, Cocks married Dana Coote;[19][20][21] he had three daughters from a previous marriage.[22][23]

In 2016, Cocks was diagnosed with renal cancer,[24][3] and he died on 6 February 2019.[25][26]

References

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  1. ^ "BNZ GoodHome". BNZ GoodHome. Archived from the original on 5 April 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  2. ^ "Cocksy Helps Ford and Variety to Help NZ Children | Scoop News". www.scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  3. ^ a b c Meng-Yee, Carolyne (19 March 2017). "Exclusive: TV builder Cocksy's terminal cancer battle". New Zealand Herald. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  4. ^ "John Cocks – "Cocksy" | Captive Audience". www.captiveaudience.co.nz. Archived from the original on 7 April 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  5. ^ a b "The Celebrity Contestants". TVNZ Ondemand. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  6. ^ "Episode 3 Recap". TVNZ Ondemand. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  7. ^ "How Did You Do That? – As seen on Living Channel". North Shore's Monthly Magazine | Channel. Archived from the original on 7 April 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  8. ^ "My House My Castle". ngataonga.org.nz. ngataonga.org.nz.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ "About My House My Castle". TVNZ. TVNZ. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  10. ^ "John "Cocksy" Cocks". TVNZ Ondemand. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  11. ^ "The Five: Kiwi DIY reality shows". Stuff. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  12. ^ "About the show". TVNZ Ondemand. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  13. ^ "John 'Cocksy' Cocks". TVNZ Ondemand. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  14. ^ TVNZ. "Cocksy's Day Off". TVNZ Licensing. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  15. ^ "Cocksy's Day Off". TVNZ Ondemand. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  16. ^ "Lunch with . . . celebrity builder John Cocks". Otago Daily Times Online News. 27 August 2008. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  17. ^ "2 Tui Television Production". 2 Tui Television Production. Archived from the original on 6 April 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  18. ^ "Teen's heavenly haven revealed". New Zealand Herald. 28 July 2015. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  19. ^ "Terminally ill John 'Cocksy' Cocks weds in Coromandel". Newshub. 6 April 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  20. ^ "Terminally ill celebrity builder John 'Cocksy' Cocks ties the knot". Stuff. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  21. ^ Meng-Yee, Carolyne (4 June 2017). "'She looked radiant': TV star John 'Cocksy' Cocks marries sweetheart". New Zealand Herald. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  22. ^ "TV handyman John 'Cocksy' Cocks has died". Newshub. 2 July 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  23. ^ "'As weird as that will sound, I feel happy' – Kiwi TV builder John 'Cocksy' Cocks philosophical as he faces terminal cancer". 1 NEWS NOW. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  24. ^ Meng-Yee, Carolyne (5 May 2018). "Reality TV star John 'Cocksy' Cocks' brave battle with terminal cancer". NZ Herald. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  25. ^ "Popular TV star builder John 'Cocksy' Cocks dies after battle with kidney cancer". 7 February 2019. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  26. ^ "Popular TV show builder John 'Cocksy' Cocks has died". Stuff. Retrieved 7 February 2019.