He joined the New Arts Theatre as a scenery mover, and became part of an amateur film a friend was making. After landing the lead role, he was encouraged to take up the profession. He attended evening classes at an actors' workshop whilst holding down a day job. He was involved working in some of the first "Lunchtime theatre" productions in the 1960s, from pub cellars to top floor spaces off St. Martin's Lane. His first television role was in an episode of "Out of the Unknown" in 1966 called "The Machine Stops". He was then cast in Don Levy's film "Herostratus" in 1967 and "Up the Junction" in 1968. He then acquired a female following after taking a role as the villainous Mordaunt in the BBC's adaptation of "Twenty Years After" ("Further Adventures of the Musketeers").