Slight, softly-spoken British character actor, noted for his interpretations of Shakespearean clowns on the stage. Associate artist with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Educated at Birmingham University and subsequently trained for acting at RADA. West End debut in "No Strings" at Her Majesty's Theatre in 1963. Had a big hit playing
Sidney James at the National Theatre in Terry Johnson's "Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle and Dick". On television and in occasional films from 1965. Memorable as cigarette-smoking, unruffled Sergeant Lucas, right-hand man to
Michael Gambon in
Maigret (1992).
