He began acting in television in the early 1970s, usually playing heavies or policemen, though he spent four years performing classic plays with the
National Theatre. In 1990, he joined the
BBC One soap opera
EastEnders as pub landlord
Eddie Royle; however, he lasted only just over a year in this role, as his character was killed off in September 1991. His character was stabbed by
Nick Cotton (
John Altman), who was later tried for the murder but cleared. After leaving
EastEnders, he appeared as Frank Dagley on
Dangerfield, and, more recently, Jerry Block for over a hundred episodes of the footballing
soap opera Dream Team. His rugged features have led to parts in numerous crime dramas:
The Sweeney,
The Gentle Touch,
Fox,
The Bill,
Minder in the Series 1 episode "
Monday Night Fever",
C.A.T.S. Eyes,
Campion,
The Chinese Detective,
Dempsey and Makepeace,
Rumpole of the Bailey,
Inspector Morse,
Maigret,
The Detectives,
Daylight Robbery and
New Tricks. He has also had parts in many other established dramas, including
When the Boat Comes In,
Coronation Street,
Casualty and most recently
Doctors and
Emmerdale. He is also known for having appeared in
Doctor Who in full alien costume as the Terileptil Leader in the 1982 story
The Visitation, and had a minor part on ''
Blake's 7. In 2010, he guest starred in Dani's House''. ==References==