Trivia

Played rugby and football for Northern Ireland.

As a young man he started work at age 18 in a sporting goods store as a salesman and then management trainee; he later went on to work as a timber-loader on the railways.

Member of the National Theatre for five years from 1963.

Starred in 2 movies about Agatha Christie's famous detective "Hercule Poirot", Murder on the Orient Express (1974) and Evil Under the Sun (1982).

Worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Old Vic and the Royal Court among other prestigious companies before making a dent in film and TV.

He was married to British actress Margaret Whiting [not the American singer] and they had three sons (including a set of twins).

The names of his three sons are Drummond, Cameron and Hamish.

Burly character actor whose acting career began in amateur repertoire theatre in Ireland. His first professional acting job was with the Group Theatre in Belfast and he also joined theatre groups in Wales before moving to London.

Made his theatrical debut in 1959 at the Royal Court in "Cock-a-Doodle-Dandy" by Sean O'Casey.

In the early 50's he lived in Springwell Village in Washington, County Durham where he was a member of the village drama group led by former actress Madeleine Kidd.

Was on the possible list for Doctor Fendelman in Doctor Who: Image of The Fendahl (source Doctor Who Magazine).

Considered for the role of "Doctor Logan" in Space: 1999 (1975), episode "Journey To Where". Freddie Jones won the role. (source Chris Bentley Gerry Anderson Books).

Was considered for the cameo role of Doctor Armstrong in Lifeforce (1985). Patrick Stewart was cast instead.

He used acting in his early days partly as a cover for his innate shyness and because he fancied a girl in the local amateur dramatic company.