Raised in London's East End

Film debut as a child in "Conspiracy of Hearts"

Directed the musical "Love from Judy"

Moved to South Africa

Worked extensively in theater in South Africa

Directed productions at the Troop Theatre and the Space Theatre in Cape Town, South Africa

Returned to England; joined the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC)

Enjoyed a stage success with the RSC's production of "The Comedy of Errors"

Film debut in small role as a taxi driver in "Queen of Hearts"

US TV debut in "Murderers Among Us: The Simon Wiesenthal Story" (HBO)

Cast as Charles Guiteau in the Stephen Sondheim-John Weidman musical "Assassins", directed by Sam Mendes

Played Roy Cohn in the London production of "Angels in America"

Cast as studio head Buddy Fiedler in the London premiere of the award-winning musical "City of Angels"

Portrayed Sigmund Freud in Terry Johnson's play "Hysteria"

Rejoined the RSC to appeare in "Pericles"

Had a leading role in the London premiere of Arthur Miller's play "Broken Glass"; reprised part in TV production (aired in USA on PBS in 1996)

Co-starred as a media baron in "Cold Lazarus", a television miniseries penned by Dennis Potter

Had featured role in "Mary Reilly"

Played Nathan Detroit opposite Imelda Staunton in London's National Theatre revival of "Guys and Dolls"

Appeared in "Private Parts" and "The Saint"

Portrayed the slippery lawyer Billy Flynn in the London staging of "Chicago"

Starred opposite Harriet Walter in the British TV series "Unfinished Business", playing former lovers who remeet and rekindle their relationship

Broadway debut in "Art"

Portrayed the concierge at the Ritz in "Notting Hill"

Co-starred in the National Theatre staging of "Summerfolk"

Enjoyed a success as Shylock in the Trevor Nunn-directed production of "The Merchant of Venice"; filmed for television and aired in 2001

Cast as the Sultan Billah in the ABC miniseries "Arabian Nights"

Earned plaudits for his starring turn in "Feelgood"

Succeeded Nathan Lane as Max Bialystock in the hit musical "The Producers," was abruptly fired from the role

Cast in the HBO movie "The Life and Death of Peter Sellers" starring Geoffrey Rush