Liverpudlian character actor, a former artist and journalist, on stage from 1910. Acted in repertory theatre and touring companies prior to World War I. Wartime service with the King's Liverpool (25th) Regiment. On the London stage by 1922, later also directing plays and adapting historical plays to modern theatre. Busy stage actor throughout his life. Best on screen as Mossop in the first filming of
Hobson's Choice (1931) and as police officer Rough in
Hantise (1940). Also played the Monty Woolley role of Sheridan Whiteside in an early television version of
The Man Who Came to Dinner (1947).
