McCrindle was born in
Glasgow. He began his acting career in 1937 starring in minor roles in UK Television. From 1946 to 1951 he played the role of Jock Anderson in
Dick Barton – Special Agent. In 1951 he starred in his first film in the USA,
The House in the Square. From there his acting career took off. He then did five more films:
I Believe in You (1952),
The Kidnappers (1953),
Trouble in the Glen (1954),
Geordie (1955) and
Depth Charge (1960). From 1962 to 1974 he went to television acting. In 1976 he was cast in the first
Star Wars film as
General Jan Dodonna, the first character to use the phrase "May the Force be with you", in any
Star Wars media. He went back to minor roles on TV, including the role of the eccentric veterinarian Ewan Ross on
All Creatures Great and Small. McCrindle was a founding member of the actors' trade union Scottish Equity. ==Personal life==