Vaughan made his film debut in 1959 in an uncredited role as a police officer in
The 39 Steps. He played Mr. Freeman in
Karel Reisz's 1980 ''
The French Lieutenant's Woman'', alongside
Meryl Streep and
Jeremy Irons. Possibly Vaughan's highest-profile film performance was as the father of
Anthony Hopkins's character in
The Remains of the Day (1993). He was also cast in
Terry Gilliam's
The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, but had not shot any material before that project was abandoned. He had previously appeared for Gilliam in
Time Bandits and
Brazil. Vaughan appeared as a menacing character in
Straw Dogs (1971), and with Bill Murray in a film of
W. Somerset Maugham's novel ''
The Razor's Edge in 1984. In 1996, he appeared as Giles Corey in The Crucible, and in 1997 he appeared alongside Robert Carlyle and Ray Winstone in Face. In 1998, Vaughan played Bishop Myriel in Les Misérables,'' alongside
Liam Neeson. His most unusual role may have been as
SS Obergruppenführer Arthur Nebe in the 1994 film of
Robert Harris's novel
Fatherland. He appeared in the music video for
Kate Bush's song "
Experiment IV".
Television Vaughan became known for his performances on television, including supporting roles in
Porridge (as
"Genial" Harry Grout) and
Citizen Smith as Charles Johnson (his role in the latter series was taken over by
Tony Steedman). His role in
Porridge brought him a great deal of public recognition despite his character appearing in only three episodes and in the
1979 film of the series. In 1975, he appeared as Tony Kirby in an episode of the hard hitting police drama
The Sweeney entitled
Stay Lucky, Eh? He also appeared as "The Fence" in the well known humorous advert for McVities Fruit Shortcake biscuits along with Harry Fowler. In 1969, Vaughan appeared in
Randall and Hopkirk in the episode "
Never Trust a Ghost". In the same year, he starred as Det. Chief Supt Cradock in the thirteen-part
London Weekend Television TV series
The Gold Robbers. In December 1972, he appeared as Mr. Paxton in the BBC television adaptation of the
M. R. James ghost story in
A Warning to the Curious,' In September 1973, he appeared as Quinn in the
London Weekend Television TV series
The Protectors, in an episode called 'Quinn'. Vaughan starred as Billy Fox in the
Thames Television series
Fox (1980). He played the clockmaker
George Graham in
Longitude, the TV drama adaptation of
Dava Sobel's eponymous non-fiction novel about the quest for a means to determine longitude at sea. In 2007 he starred in the television series
Mobile, and as Uncle Alfie in the film
Death at a Funeral. In 2011 Vaughan starred as Michael Dodd in the BBC courtroom drama
Silk. His final role, between 2011 and 2015, was
Maester Aemon in the
HBO series
Game of Thrones.
Radio Vaughan was heard as Superintendent Kirk in the BBC dramatisation of
Dorothy L. Sayers' Peter Wimsey novel ''Busman's Honeymoon
, and as Denethor in the 1981 BBC Radio production of The Lord of the Rings''.
Stage Vaughan's first breakthrough role was in 1964 as Ed in
Joe Orton's work
Entertaining Mr Sloane performed at
Wyndham's Theatre. ==Personal life and death==