[4] After appearing in repertory theatres he was called up for military service in the Royal Devon Yeomanry, in which he served in Sicily and Italy during the Second World War.

[5] He then contracted hepatitis and become a member of an Army drama company that toured military units.

He was more prolific in television from the 1960s, and played character roles in many series and programmes including The Lotus Eaters (1972–73) and The Duchess of Duke Street (1976–77).

He is best known for his role as Doc Morrissey in the BBC sitcom The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin (1976–79), in which his catchphrase was "Take two aspirins.

[11] He also starred in the 1980s comedy series My Husband and I. Horsley played Giles Rowley in "The Colonel's Lady" (1988), an episode of Tales of the Unexpected.