British actor and voice actor. Born 19 February 1920 in Bicester, Oxfordshire, England, UK and died 5 May 1988, Rio Plata, Dominican Republic.
A British Music Hall star, he created the roles of Hobson in "Walking Happy" and The Chairman in "The Mystery of Edwin Drood."
Beaten to death by his adopted son, the young mans natural father, an uncle and a fourth man.
Won two Tony Awards as Best Actor : in 1976, for a revival of "My Fair Lady," and in 1986, for "The Mystery of Edwin Drood." He was also nominated for a Tony thre other times: as Best Supporting or Featured Actor , in 1970 for "Coco;" as Best Supporting or Featured Actor for "My Fat Friend," and again as Best Actor , in 1981 for "The Pirates of Penzance."
He was nominated for a 1978 Joseph Jefferson Award for Guest Artist for his performance in "What the Butler Saw", at the Academy Festival Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.
Twice played the father of "Eliza Doolittle", in the 1976 Broadway revival of "My Fair Lady" and George Bernard Shaw s play, "Pygmalion", for Pygmalion in 1963.
Quit school at sixteen to work as a secretary at Oxford University.
Following three years of service with the British Army during World War II, he studied acting and first performed on stage with the Old Vic in London.
