[1][2] Born 6 August 1900 in Dublin, Ireland, Farrell moved to America and appeared in a stock company in Detroit when a child.
In 1921, he moved to England and made his first stage appearance at the Coliseum.
[3] His first film appearance was in John Bunny and Flora Finch comedies.
Unlike his heroic American namesake, he was later cast in villainous film roles.
[3] This contrasted with his frequent broadcasts of fairy tales on BBC radio's Children's Hour.