He was famous for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in the television series
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1984) and
The Return of Sherlock Holmes (1986). When he learned that his Sherlock Holmes was very popular with children (who saw him as a superhero), he was troubled by the fact that Holmes is a cocaine user. In response, he sought and obtained permission from
Arthur Conan Doyle's daughter to have Holmes overcome and abandon his addiction, signified with Holmes burying his syringe in the episode "The Devil's Foot".
