Frequently cast as Russian dignitaries or bureaucrats.
Grandfather of Polly Cameron.
Grandfather-in-law of Shaun Dooley.
Has five daughters (Melanie, Antonia, Penelope, Samantha and Kirsty) and one son (Toby). His eldest son, Paul, died of a heroin overdose in 1982.
He has an entry in "Dictionnaire du Cinéma/Les Acteurs" by Jean Tulard, published in Paris in 2007 (page 11).
He studied at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, England.
He was awarded the C.B.E. (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2001 Queen's New Years Honours List for his services to drama.
His son, Paul, worked as a builder.
On the "BBC Desert Island Discs" radio program broadcast in August 2001, Ackland picked the music he would want with him if he was stranded on a desert island. His picks were, in apparently ascending order: - 1. Ralph Vaughan Williams' "The Lark Ascending", Nigel Kennedy with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Simon Rattle - 2. "Bailero" from "Songs of the Auvergne", Victoria de los Angeles with Orchestre des Concerts Lamoureux conducted by Jean-Pierre Jacquillat - 3. "Moon River" sung by Audrey Hepburn - 4. 'Stephen Sondheim''s "Children Will Listen" from "Into the Woods", performed by Bernadette Peters - 5. Nina Simone's cover of "Mr. Bojangles" - 6. Sondheim's "Losing My Mind", sung by Barbara Cook - 7. Jean Sibelius' "Violin Concerto", Ivry Gitlis with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra conducted by