Was famous for telling his live audiences to stop laughing during one
of his comedy routines by exclaiming "Desist!" This, of course, made
them laugh even harder.
He was made a Knight Bachelor in the 1954 Queen's New Year Honours List for his services to drama.
When he was on the music halls he was billed as "The Prime Minister of
Mirth".
Entertained troops overseas during World War I.
Forced to abandon his studies at Cambridge University, due to financial difficulties experienced by his engineer father.
On the London stage from 1891, in films from 1900. His famous early comic screen persona was a country parson with an ill-fitting bowler hat and thick, black eyebrows.
Noted for his performances of Falstaff, both on stage, and in Olivier's "Henry V" on screen.
He was awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1919 King's New Year Honours List for his services during World War I.