Moved to Ireland with family at six months old

Moved with family to Sheffield, England

Evacuated to the countryside during WWII

Acted in as many as five amateur theater companies

Worked as a stage manager for the Sheffield Repertory Company

Acted with the Youth Acting Centre at Sheffield Playhouse

West End (London) stage debut, played Rev. William Weightman in "The Brontes"

Feature acting debut, played the bit part of a RAF Police Sergeant in "The Dam Busters"

Appeared in West End productions of "Serious Charge" and "Moby Dick"; played Starbuck in the latter, directed by Orson Welles

Signed contract with the Rank Organization; appeared in bit parts and came to specialize in heavies

Early TV appearance, "The Hanging of Alfred Wadham," an episode of the British anthology series "Rendezvous"

First substantial film role, playing the sadistic trucker Red in "Hell Drivers"

Enjoyed his greatest stage success in the title role of an acclaimed production of Ibsen's "Brand" as an uncompromising pastor

Starred in the British television series "Danger Man"; also directed episodes; aired on CBS in the US

Early film lead, playing a scheming drummer in "All Night Long"

Starred in a revival of "Danger Man" (expanded to an hour); rebroadcast in the US as "Secret Agent"

Created, produced and starred in the British series, "The Prisoner"; also directed and scripted several episodes (sometimes under a pseudonym); aired on CBS in the US

Hollywood film debut, "Ice Station Zebra"

Directed Richie Havens in a rock-opera version of "Othello" called "Catch My Soul"

American TV directing debut, a 90-minute episode of "Columbo" (NBC); also earned an Emmy Award for guest-starring in the episode

Directed second episode of "Columbo" (NBC); also guest-starred in the episode entitled "Identity Crisis"

Starred in the short-lived series "Rafferty" (CBS) as a former army doctor who has retired and moved into private practice

Appeared in the NBC TV-movie, "The Man in the Iron Mask"; directed by Mike Newell

Appeared in David Cronenberg's sci-fi horror film, "Scanners"

Made Broadway debut in "Pack of Lies"

Directed a two-hour "Columbo" movie for ABC entitled "Agenda for Murder"; won an Emmy Award for his guest role as a powerful attorney who commits murder

Starred in Masterpiece Theatre's production of "The Best of Friends" (PBS) alongside Sir John Gielgud and Dame Wendy Hiller

Returned to features to play King Edward I in "Braveheart"

Played the father of the title character (played by Billy Zane) in the film adaptation of "The Phantom"