Trivia

Served In The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) during the Second World War.

During the 1930s toured Britain and acted in Australia and then, prior to the Second World War, spent four years in Hollywood.

He and his Une question de vie ou de mort (1946), The Rogues (1964) and Prudence... et la pilule (1968) co-star David Niven both played Captain Fritz von Tarlenheim in different adaptations of the 1894 novel "The Prisoner of Zenda" by Anthony Hope: Niven in Le prisonnier de Zenda (1937) and Coote in Le Prisonnier de Zenda (1952).

For many years he lived above David Niven's garage in Hollywood.

Only survivor was his sister, Peggy Coote Caswell of Sussex, England.

David Niven worked with Coote (whom he invariably called "Coote, old man") on many occasions and the two of them even shared a house for a time; Niven spoke fondly of him in his memoirs. However, on reading these reminiscences, Coote was a little annoyed to find that Niven had deliberately attributed certain witticisms of his to other, more famous actors, presumably to "make a better story".

Son of Bert Coote, who wrote the popular children's play, The Windmill Man.

Was nominated for Broadway's 1957 Tony Award as Best Supporting Actor (Musical) for "My Fair Lady," for his performance as Colonel Pickering, a role he created in the original Broadway production (1956-1962) and reprised in the Broadway revival (1976-1977).

Made his London debut playing the King in the 1931 revival of "The Windmill Man" at the Victoria Palace.

Mother, Ada Russell, was a dancer.

Left Hurstpierpoint College at sixteen and moved into repertory, touring Shakespeare and a season with an English company in South Africa.