A distant relation of the novelist George Eliot and illustrator John Tenniel, from whom he gained his middle name.
Father of Matthew Evans and Serena Evans, husband of Evangeline Banks and son-in-law of the actor Leslie Banks.
Filmed scenes as Hugh Grant's father in Notting Hill (1999) but his part was removed during post production.
In 1985 he was ordained as a Church of England minister and alternated acting with church duties.
Part of the cast of the 1960s radio comedy "The Navy Lark".
Tenniel recommended his friend, Jon Pertwee, to audition for the role of "Doctor Who" (1963) on the BBC.