Studied law at Jesus College, Oxford, but became president of OUDS by his final year, when he played the lead in RICHARD III to wide critical acclaim. Subsequently joined the Old Vic, where among other roles he played the Dauphin to Richard Burton's Henry V. Left the Old Vic under less than happy circumstances and had even less luck with the Royal Court. Spent some time in France, where he briefly considered remaining, but returned to the UK and spent some seven years working in television and low-paying quickie films. In 1966, played one of the leads in Tom Stoppard's teleplay TEETH -- an instant artistic rapport was the result, as was a second Stoppard role in ANOTHER MOON CALLED EARTH, a sort of proto-JUMPERS. Critical and commercial break came with the role of Guil in the NYC run of ROSENCRANTZ & GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD, for which he received a Tony nomination. Back in the UK, won Most Promising Actor award in 1970 for his role in the Harold Pinter production of James Joyce's EXILES. Invited to join the RSC, he began a series of highly individual Shakespearean roles, as well as more popularly-based efforts. His Sherlock Holmes in 1974 was reprised in NYC, resulting in a second Tony nomination. The following year, the New York run of Stoppard's TRAVESTIES -- in which he starred as Henry Carr -- gave him the Tony for Best Actor. Additional theatre work in America: TARTUFFE, DEATHTRAP and AMADEUS. UK theatre work included DEVIL'S DISCIPLE, EVERY GOOD BOY DESERVES FAVOUR, UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY, MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER, title role in RICHARD III, Prospero in TEMPEST, Lear in KING LEAR, and of course, A.E. Housman in Stoppard's INVENTION OF LOVE in 1997, for which he received an Olivier Award nomination. Married twice, four children.


Won a Tony 1976 for "Travesties". He was awarded the 1991 London Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actor for his performance in King Lear. Was cast by director Robert Altman to appear in the Old Vic's early 2006 production of the Arthur Miller play "Resurrection Blues" but dropped out before previews and was replaced by James Fox.