Attended Stonyhurst, the Jesuit boarding school in England also attended by Peter Glenville and Charles Laughton.
Awarded a Tony in 1955 for supporting dramatic actor in Witness For the Prosecution. Charles Laughton, who played the same role in the 1957 film version, was Oscar nominated for his performance in the best actor category, not best supporting actor.
Became a friend of Agatha Christie after starring in two of her plays as detective Hercule Poirot.
Became a naturalized U.S. citizen.
He is one of the few actors to play the same role in two film versions of the same story - Jaggers in Charles Dickens' Great Expectations (1934) and Great Expectations (1946).
His friendship with writer Agatha Christie led to a long-standing personal interest in criminology.
Made his debut at the Old Vic in "Richard III" at the age of 18 in 1921.