Trivia

He served with the Royal Engineers as a radio operator, and with the RAF as ground support staff in the latter part of WW2.

Was one of the founding members of the dramatic stage troupe the Actors' Company in the seventies alongside Sir Ian McKellen and Edward Petherbridge.

He was a scholarship student at Camberwell School of Arts & Crafts between 1938 and 1941.

Was a key member of Toby Robertson's Prospect Theatre Company from the mid 1960's to it's demise at The Old Vic in the late 1970's. This period saw him develop into one of the UK's foremost Shakespearian character actors and forge a long career in straight theatre alongside continued appearances in the type of comedy roles he was best known for.

He was the son of a milk man. His parents wanted him to become a commercial artist.