 During the First World War he served with the King's Liverpool Regiment.He appeared in such films as the original version of "Gaslight" (1940), "Kipps" (1941 - as Old Kipps), and "Becket" (1964 - as the Bishop of York).His collection of printed and manuscript playscripts - mostly acquired from the son of the comedian Arthur Williams (1844–1915) - is held at the Templeman Library, University of Kent.