Born November 1st 1915, Michael's mother died when he was 3 weeks old and from then on was looked after by an Uncle and Aunt and largely estranged from his father till later in life. He attended Harrow School and from there went to Oxford to read modern languages. It was while here that he first performed, and after Oxford he attended Douglas Webber where he met Dulcie Gray. She was 4 years his junior and they were married in 1939 shortly after leaving college.

So began a truly remarkable career and one of the most enduring and famous marriages in show business, working often together in their prolific careers covering more than 21 films and over 100 West End Productions. This partnership being immortalised in the Albatross Sketch by Monty Python's Flying Circus.

Michael has been described as the quintessential English gentleman. He became a much loved pillar of the acting profession bringing elegance and charm in a long and successful life on stage and screen. His stage debut was in "Charlie's Aunt" at Frinton-on-Sea 1938. The following year he made his first film appearance with a small, uncredited role in "Inspector Hornleigh on Holiday". He has the honour of being one of the very few English actors to appear on pre war television.

During the war he joined the Royal Signals in 1940 and later was with the Intelligence Corps until 1946. He returned to acting in 1947 in the memorable film "My Brother Jonathan" with Dulcie. He worked opposite Michael Redgrave in "The Importance of being Ernest" and probably his greatest fame came with the long running TV series "Boyd, QC" from 1956 to '63. One of his last films was Shadowlands in 1993 and his final appearance was in "Curtain Up" opposite Dulcie in April 1998, just three months before his death.

In 1971 he became director of New Shakespeare Company.
Served as Equity Council Member 1949 - '55 and 1959 - '77
Elected Equity Vice President 1952; 1961-63 and 1974.
Member of British Arts Council.
In 1977 he was awarded the Jubilee Medal by the Queen.
In 1983 both he and Dulcie were created Commanders of the British Empire.

Among the books he has published are the biographies "Double Act" and "Overture and Beginners" and the children's book "The Actor and His World"

He died aged 82 at home in July 1982 from cancer. Dulcie is still working

Source: Internet.

Web Page Written by Ben Heaf. - September 2003
Text and Photographs Copyright Ben Heaf © 2003