He made his acting debut in a walk on part in 'Iphigenia in Aulis' and his first speaking part in 'Pericles' at the Old Birmingham Repertory Theatre.
Educated at Broad Street Secondary Modern School in Coventry. After school he was briefly employed as an office clerk before studying acting at the Birmingham School of Speech Training and Dramatic Art.
After National Service in the Royal Air Force he entered repertory theatre and then headed off to the USA where he appeared first in Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955). However it was not until he returned to the UK that his career really took off spending nearly three decades in constant demand in theatre, television and occasionally on film.
Made his theatrical debut in a walk on part in Iphigenia in Aulia at the old Repertory Theatre in Station Street, Birmingham and his first speaking part in Pericles at the same theatre.