Trivia

Often regarded as the definitive screen incarnation of Georges Simenon's easy-going detective, Chief Inspector Jules Maigret. On the strength of his popularity, Davies was named "Television Actor of the Year" in 1963.

He was the first actor to play George Smiley. The character was later played by Alec Guinness, Gary Oldman, Denholm Elliott and James Mason (though it was based on Smiley, the character name had to be changed to Charles Dobbs because Paramout owned the rights to the character).

Having become famous playing Chief Inspector Jules Maigret on TV, he then impersonated a Maigret-like character in a series of commercials for Dubonnet, for ITV. Georges Simenon, Maigret's creator, objected to the commercials and had them stopped. Davies regretted this, claiming he had made more money over the few days of filming the commercials than he had in nearly four years of playing Maigret for the BBC.

Amongst his fellow prisoners in Stalag Luft III were Donald Pleasence, Peter Butterworth and Talbot Rothwell (screenwriter of the "Carry On" films).

Joined the British Merchant Navy prior to World War II, before becoming an observer in the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy. Spent five years in a German POW camp, after being shot down behind enemy lines.

Considered for the part of "Doctor Who" when William Hartnell, the original Doctor, left the series in 1966. Patrick Troughton ultimately won the part.

Served as a Sub-Lieutenant (Observer) in the Fleet Air Arm during World War II. In 1940, the pilot of his "Swordfish" aircraft in which Davies was aboard ditched into the sea off the Dutch coast. Davies was captured and sent to Stalag Luft III, the camp made famous in The Great Escape (1963). It was in Stalag Luft III that he developed a serious interest in theatre, through entertaining his fellow prisoners. He also made three escape attempts, all of which failed.

British tabloid newspapers claimed he died penniless in 1976.

First acted professionally at the Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith, eventually moving on to the Old Vic.

Father of Hogan Davies.

Father of Timothy.

He was voted "British Actor of the Year" in 1961, but when the producers had exhausted the Maigret books, he found it hard to get another role. His fortunes revived when the BBC cast him as Count Rostov in "War and Peace", a 20-part serialization of the Tolstoy classic first televised in 1972.

Was the first actor to play British spy, George Smiley.

His son Timothy Davies claimed recently, that his father had concerns about being typecast after the "Maigret" series finished.

He died of cancer in Guy's Hospital.