Although born in Sunderland, he spent most of his life in Scotland and
considers himself a true Scot. As a child he suffered from asthma and
considered his recovery from it was due to playing the bugle in the
Boys' Brigade.
Educated in Glasgow, he toyed with the idea of becoming
a teacher but after national service in the Royal Scots Greys Armoured
Corps, he was persuaded to follow his father working in flour mills and
by the age of 24 had become a sales manager. In his spare time he
worked with amateur drama groups which led him to decide to change
career direction.
After training at Glasgow College of Dramatic Art, he
became assistant stage manager at Glasgow's Citizen Theatre and within
three months was playing lead roles including Lorenzo in The Merchant
of Venice and the Gentleman Caller in The Glass Menagerie. After
declining an offer to understudy
Albert Finney at London's National
Theatre, he was cast as Martin in the film
The Fighting Prince of Donegal (1966)
followed by the television play
Cock, Hen and Courting Pit (1966)
and the film
Ulysses (1967).
Returning to
the theatre, he played MacDuff in Macbeth at London's Royal Court
Theatre and during the run took over the title role from
Alec Guinness then starred in the
theatre's next production of Soldiers of Fortune.
His first wife was
Scottish actress
Jan Wilson, by whom
he had a daughter, Sarah-Anne.
The Nest(2020)as Lenny
Two Doors Down(2016)as Willie
Murder(2016)as Desmond
Macbeth(2015)as Menteith
Luna(2014)as (Jacob) Doctor
Cheers(1982)
Oh! What a Lovely War(1969)
Inside Out of Mind(2011)as Self
Making 'the Last of the Mohicans'(2010)as Self
Cast Iron Killers: The Story of 'Danger UXB'(2006)as Self - Sergeant James
The Media Show(1987)as Self
The Secret Story of the BBC Christmas Tapes(2018)as Self
The Magical World of Disney(1954)as Martin
