This person was born on the 3 rd January 1942 in Manchester. Brought up by just his father from the age of 7 when his mother left home. He graduated from Manchester 's Durie Technical High school , from there he worked briefly as a Baker, Laborer and an Entertainer. Then at the age of 17 he was persuaded by his former drama teacher to audition for the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. He won admission and shortly after got his first stage debut in a play called A Shred Of Evidence at the Liverpool Playhouse Theatre.

He appeared on stage frequently throughout the 70's and 80's most notably with the National Theatre Company and The Royal Shakespeare Company . But he made his first big screen debut in 1962 as Bosworth , then in 1972 he starred in the role of Shavers in the film Doctor Phibes Rises Again.

In 1964 he went to playing characters on TV some of the characters he made his own were Henry Willows -Home To Roost, Kieran Flynn -Business as Usual and Peter Mayle - A Year In Provence. He also was a big fan of classical music from a very young age just like one of the characters he portrays.

He did venture back to the big screen in 1987 portraying the character Kruger - Cry Freedom in which he was nominated for a BAFTA and then again in 1992 as Fred Karno - Chaplin. But he was still more famous on the small screen playing characters such as Tom Oakley -Goodnight Mister Tom, Harry Barnett -Into The Blue, Jim Procter -The Glass, Joshua Mantle -The Waiting Time. and also Det. Insp. John Albert Regan

Finally his most memorable roles were of course in 1994 when he starred as Kavanagh Q.C. which was the same year he was awarded a CBE. Then of course the role which earned him 2 BAFTA Awards for best TV actor was as Chief Inspector Endeavour Morse . Then finally on the 21 st Feb he lost his fight with cancer and died being known as one of the country's finest actors. It is of course…..