He was born in Birmingham, England, to Irish parents, but brought up in Dublin. Outside Ireland he is probably best known for his minor role as General Willard in Star Wars (1977), but viewers of horror films might also remember him as the sceptical Inspector Mulrooney in The Mummy (1959) and as the kindly Dr. Reginald Landers in Island of Terror (1966). He also appeared as Inspector O'Neill in the film Jack the Ripper (1959). He died of a stroke in Dublin in 1981.