He played Miles Gloriosus in the original London production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, which he reprised for the 1966 film version.

During World War II, the family moved to Southend-on-Sea, where he studied engineering at the town’s municipal college, singing in its operatic society.

In 1963, he moved on to musical comedy, appearing in the West End production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum as the Roman captain Miles Gloriosus.

[5] He reprised Miles Gloriosus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at Chichester Festival Theatre in the summer of 1986,[6] and the Baron for Scottish Opera and in the award-winning production of Candide at the Old Vic in 1988–89.

His films included A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1966), reprising Miles Gloriosus; Camelot (1967), A Challenge for Robin Hood (also 1967), The Devil Rides Out (1968), a rare starring role; The Squeeze (1977), Flash Gordon (1980), and several Carry On comedies.