Born in Birmingham, Warwickshire, McGuire attended
Bournville Grammar-Technical School for Boys. He began work as a Commercial Apprentice at the
Austin Motor Company in Birmingham in 1964 and toyed with developing a career as a footballer (even playing in King Norton's League and for Alvechurch second team). He became disillusioned with both football and life at "the Austin" and, after watching a
Michael Caine film, declared he was going to be an actor. He was encouraged by his apprentice supervisor and gained entry to drama school. While training to be a
British Leyland salesman, McGuire made the move to become an actor. Introduced to the Alvechurch Amateur Dramatic Society, he did some work at
Crescent Theatre (initially using the name Steve McGuire) before being trained at the
Birmingham College of Speech and Drama. ==Career==