Born: January 3, 1942 in Manchester.
Star sign: Capricorn.
Parents: His father was an often-absent lorry driver, and, during the Second World War, a fireman, and his mother abandoned him and his younger brother when he was seven.
Education: He left Ducie Technical High School in Manchester at 16 with 1 O-level.
Previous jobs: A porter in a fruit market, lined up for an electrical-engineering apprenticeship, did some stand-up comedy with the local youth club on visits to old people's homes, and got a place at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art at the tender age of 16. Joined the RSC in 1983.
Lives: Houses in Chiswick, Luckington, Wiltshire and a converted barn in the Luberon, France.
Love life: Divorced from first wife, Sally Alexander. Married actress Sheila Hancock in 1973, separated briefly when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Children: Three actress daughters, Joanna, 24, Abigail, 33, and Melanie, 35.
Kavanagh QC (1994) TV Series as James Kavanagh QC (TV)
A Year in Provence, (1993) (mini) as Peter Mayle (TV)
Inspector Morse (1987) TV Series as Chief Inspector (Endeavour) Morse (TV)
The Sweeney (1977) as Detective Inspector John Albert "Jack" Regan (TV)
