[1] Born in Norwich, Norfolk, Hanley began his career as a child actor before becoming popular in juvenile roles.

[2] He was groomed by the Rank Studio system during his teenage years and earned film stardom as a "boy-next-door" type.

[2] The young actor attended the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts and whilst he was studying there, made his stage debut at age 12 at the London Palladium, as John Darling in Peter Pan.

[4] During the Second World War he served as an officer with the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, and in a commando raid in Norway he was wounded in the leg and was invalided out of the service.

[5] He later worked on radio and TV, appearing in several television series and hosting the ITV series Jim's Inn from 1957 to 1963, which combined advertising messages with the plot of a soap opera, where he and his wife Maggie played the hosts of a pub where customers discussed bargains and new products whilst drinking.