Born in Mrian Glas, Anglesey, Wales. A former bank clerk, he made his stage debut in 1939 and his first film appearance the following year. He played forceful, exuberant character roles in numerous plays and over 70 films, in the US as well as in Britain, and won an Academy Award as best supporting actor for his portrayal of Sheik Ilderim in BEN-HUR (1959). Other notable screen credits include EXODUS (1960), MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY (1962), THE AMOROUS ADVENTURES OF MOLL FLANDERS (1965), HOW TO STEAL A MILLION (1966), OH DAD, POOR DAD... (1967), OLIVER! and THE FIXER (both 1968), START THE REVOLUTION WITHOUT ME (1970), THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES (1971), LUTHER and THE PASSOVER PLOT (both 1976), JOSEPH ANDREWS, CASANOVA & CO. and THE LAST REMAKE OF BEAU GESTE (all 1977), THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES (1978) and A NIGHTINGALE SANG IN BERKELEY SQUARE (1979).  Supporting Actor 1959: BEN-HUR  Nominated for Supporting Actor 1963: TOM JONES 2 nominations, 1 Award