He strongly disagreed with the notion that Milne's works were only for children. Milne had felt the same way about his creations.
Since 1976, toured in a one-man show, "Bother!", which consisted of readings from "Winnie-the-Pooh" and other A.A. Milne classics.
In 1976, he marked Winnie-the-Pooh's 50th "birthday" by giving an impromptu reading at Cambridge University. Word got out, and the auditorium was packed. This was the inspiration for his show "Bother!".
His son Shane from a previous marriage died in his late 30s in 1994, the unintended victim of a drive-by shooting in St. Louis.
He grew up in a working-class family during WWII, and had little access to books during his childhood. He left school early and trained as a surveyor and accountant. When he was 19, he was drafted by the British military and served for six years.
When he was 29, he attended the theater for the first time, seeing Derek Jacobi in "Look Back in Anger". This inspired him to quit his job at a steel company and become an actor.
At 32, he graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.