Paul Rogers was born in Plympton, Devon, and attended Newton Abbot Grammar School.

From 1940 to 1946 he served in the Royal Navy during World War II, before returning to acting at the Bristol Old Vic.

He went on to appear in many West End and Broadway productions, and won the Tony for Best Actor for his role in Harold Pinter's play The Homecoming in 1967.

His most notable performances with the Company included Nick Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream and Sir John Falstaff in Henry IV parts 1 and 2.

His film appearances include Beau Brummel (1954), Our Man in Havana (1959), The Trials of Oscar Wilde (1960), Billy Budd (1962), The Third Secret (1964), The Shoes of the Fisherman (1968), A Midsummer Night's Dream (1968), Three Into Two Won't Go (1969), The Looking Glass War (1970), The Homecoming (1973) and Oscar and Lucinda (1997).