- Was famous for telling his live audiences to stop laughing during one of his comedy routines by exclaiming "Desist!" This, of course, made them laugh even harder.
- He was made a Knight Bachelor in the 1954 Queen's New Year Honours List for his services to drama.
- When he was on the music halls he was billed as "The Prime Minister of Mirth".
- Entertained troops overseas during World War I.
- Forced to abandon his studies at Cambridge University, due to financial difficulties experienced by his engineer father.
- On the London stage from 1891, in films from 1900. His famous early comic screen persona was a country parson with an ill-fitting bowler hat and thick, black eyebrows.
- Noted for his performances of Falstaff, both on stage, and in Olivier's "Henry V" on screen.
- He was awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1919 King's New Year Honours List for his services during World War I.
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