Orphaned as a child, he was evacuated to Australia at the outbreak of the First World War and spent his early upbringing there. He attended drama school in Sydney and later acted on stage, after 1945 also producing plays.
Tall, bald English character actor, equally at home in menacing or comic roles. Made his mark as Magwitch in a 1959 live TV version of "Great Expectations". Later a regular guest performer on the Benny Hill Show.