After being demobilised from the army, he joined a repertory company, acting in the West End. His first film role to be credited was in Radio Cab Murder in 1954. In The '60s, he began to appear on British TV, notably as a regular on It's a Square World, and was a familiar background face in British sitcoms, notably appearing in 5 episodes of Steptoe and Son.
At the same time, he continued to appear in popular comedy films, such as The Big Job, Carry On Screaming!, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Up the Chastity Belt, and No Sex Please, We're British.
In 1972, he was cast as Captain Peacock in Are You Being Served? and remained with the series until its final episode in 1985. He returned to the role in the film and in Grace & Favour.
In 1997, a departing Brian Wilde suggested him for the role of Truly in Last of the Summer Wine, a role he would play until the series ended in 2010.
He died in his sleep at the age of 92.
Works on TV Tropes he appeared in:
Film
- Victim (1961) — George (Uncredited Role)
- A Hard Day's Night (1964) — Chauffeur (Deleted Role)
- The Tomb of Ligeia (1964) — Peperel
- The Wild Affair (1965) — Wine Shop Manager
- Carry On Screaming! (1966) — Mr. Jones
- A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1966) — Roman Sentry
- The Bliss of Mrs. Blossom (1968) — Factory Manager
- The Assassination Bureau (1969) — Count von Kissen (Uncredited Role)
- The Bed Sitting Room (1969) — The BBC
- The Magic Christian (1969) — Police Inspector (Uncredited Role)
- The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970) — Porter
- The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer (1970) — Tom Stoddart
- Up the Chastity Belt (1972) — Master of Ceremonies
- Steptoe and Son Ride Again (1973) — Mr. Russell
- The Three Musketeers (1973) — Man in Small Carriage (Uncredited Role)
- Are You Being Served? (1977) — Captain Stephen Peacock
- The BFG (1989) — Mr. Tibbs
- Gosford Park (2001) — Mr. Burkett
- Run for Your Wife (2012) — Man Getting off Bus
- Dixon of Dock Green, episode "The New Skipper" (1957) — Police Constable Cox
- Danger Man, 2 episodes:
- "Find and Return" (1961) — Police Captain
- "The Hired Assassin" (1961) — Pepe
- Hancock's Half Hour, episode "The Blood Donor" (1961) — Mr. Johnson
- The Avengers, episode "Death on the Slipway" (1961) — Sir William Bonner
- Steptoe and Son, 5 episodes:
- "The Economist" (1962) — Seller
- "Sixty-Five Today" (1963) — Barman
- "Steptoe a la Cart" (1964) — Butler
- "Pilgrim's Progress" (1965) — Frenchman
- "The Party" (1973) — Travel Agency Clerk
- Coronation Street, 1 episode (1966) — Danny Roach
- The Champions, episode "The Night People" (1968) — Clerk
- Inside George Webley, episode "Hold Your Breath and Count to Fifty" (1968) — Maitre d'
- The Goodies, 2 episodes:
- "Farm Fresh Food" (1971) — Waiter
- "Rock Goodies" (1977) — Master of Ceremonies
- Love Thy Neighbour, episode "Refused a Drink" (1972) — Barman
- Are You Being Served?, 69 episodes (1972-85) — Captain Stephen Peacock
- Sykes, episode "Dream" (1972) — Dr. Taplow
- Fall of Eagles, episode "The English Princess" (1974) — Prince Albert
- Whodunnit?, episode "Nothing to Declare" (1975) — Gerald Harvey
- The New Avengers, episode "House of Cards" (1976) — Roland
- Jackanory Playhouse, 2 episodes:
- "Princess Griselda's Birthday Gift" (1978) — King Balthazar
- "The Knighties" (1984) — Sir Torrence
- The Sooty Show, 3 episodes:
- 2 episodesshow list (1984-87) — Dr. Hugh
- "Money Doesn't Grow on Trees" (1986) — Mr. Wolfe
- T.Bag and the Revenge of the T.Set, 2 episodesshow list (1987) — Count Boris
- T-Bag Bounces Back, episode "The Bard" (1989) — Will Wagadagger
- Grace & Favour, 12 episodes (1992-93) — Captain Stephen Peacock
- Last of the Summer Wine, 135 episodes (1997-2010) — Herbert "Truly" Truelove
- CASUAL+Y, episode "Heroes and Villains" (2001) — Edward Gutheridge
- Doctors, episode "A Soldier's Lot" (2003) — Gerard Mears
- Holby City, episode "We'll Meet Again" (2004) — Douglas Archer
- Children in Need, 1 episode (2007) — Restaurant Manager
