Son of a Wesleyan minister. Leading man of early British talkies, a former mining engineer. At one time worked in a Yorkshire coal mine, before turning to acting in repertory theatre. Stalwart performances in Hitchcock's thriller
Blackmail (1929) as the heroine's policeman boyfriend, and as an officer aboard the Titanic in
Atlantic (1929). All up, appeared in five of Hitchcock's early films. Between 1933 and 1935, toured Australia, performing on stage in Sydney and Melbourne. His later career was hampered by a drinking problem, but he continued in supporting roles until his retirement in 1964.
