He was educated at Rugby where he became interested in acting. He spent a year in Canada studying agriculture then returned to England and taught at a prep school in Surrey. In 1950 he joined the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art and on completing the course joined and toured with Dundee Repertory Theatre.
He was a physically imposing British classical actor of stage and screen who featured in many classic TV series, including the first episode of The Avengers (1961) and four Doctor Who (1963) serials.
In the 1980s he moved with his wife to the Isle of Skye where he became a crofter.