After he suffered a severe stroke which affected his speech in 1982, he had to give up stage acting because he was afraid that he would forget his lines. However after a break of eighteen months to recover, he was able to return to film and TV acting where retakes were possible if his memory failed him.
He directed at the Royal Court Theatre in 1966.
Joined the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow in 1958 and became general manager in 1962 before relocating to London's Royal Court Theatre in 1965.
Started his career working as a radio journalist with the BBC in Glasgow.