Born in Cape Town, South Africa. In Hollywood from the 1930s after extensive stage and screen activity in Australia, he appeared in well over 100 films, typically in roguish, twinkly-eyed, lovable character parts. He was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of a leprechaun in THE LUCK OF THE IRISH (1948) and again for his performance in GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER (1967). Some of his notable non-nominated screen credits include INTERMEZZO (1939), THE INVISIBLE MAN RETURNS and THE LETTER (both 1940), TAKE A LETTER, DARLING, I MARRIED A WITCH and STAR SPANGLED RHYTHM (all 1942), MRS. PARKINGTON (1944), LOVE LETTERS and KITTY (both 1945), THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE (1946), JOAN OF ARC and PORTRAIT OF JENNIE (both 1948), HARVEY and KIM (both 1950), YOUNG BESS and THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS (both 1953), INTERRUPTED MELODY and THE PRODIGAL (both 1955), THE SHAGGY DOG (1959), TAMMY TELL ME TRUE (1961), THE CARDINAL (1963), HUSH... HUSH, SWEET CHARLOTTE and THE CONFESSION (both 1964), SPINOUT (1966), FITZWILLY (1967) and his last feature film, GETTING STRAIGHT (1970). He also worked extensively in television.  Nominated for Supporting Actor 1948: LUCK OF THE IRISH  Nominated for Supporting Actor 1967: GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER 2 nominations