He was born in Dudley, Worcestershire, and started work as a bank clerk in Shrewsbury while performing in the evenings as A. C. Rose.
In 1911 he joined the Liverpool Repertory Company, and also toured in a Shakespearian troupe led by Estelle Stead.
In 1915 he helped establish the breakaway Liverpool Commonwealth Company, and acted in Trelawny of the 'Wells' that year in London.
In Bristol in 1922, Fox was taken ill so that Rose performed alone; the show was a success, and he was booked as a solo entertainer for further engagements.
[1] In the late 1930s Rose continued to tour successfully with his revue, as well as making regular appearances in pantomime.