But it was his role as the predatory Uncle Monty in WithnailAndI - which has become of one of the biggest cult classics in British cinema history - that made him a fan favourite.
His early TV career saw him land bit parts in series such as Minder, The Sweeney and Bergerac, while he also played small parts in major films such as Chariots of Fire, Superman II and Gandhi before the big breakthrough came in WithnailandI.