His father was a stained-glass window maker, and his mother was a secretary. He left school at 15, and worked as a copy boy for the Manchester Evening News.
He had a son, Rowan (b. 1971), from his first marriage. He had a daughter, Georgia Mabel (b. November 1998), from his second marriage.
He performed with amateur companies, and worked at Huddersfield Rep. At 18, he played Huckleberry Finn in "Tom Sawyer" at the Liverpool Playhouse, and turned pro afterward.
He left school at 15 determined to be an actor although his first job was as a runner at the Manchester Evening News while doing bit parts in such as Coronation Street. His big break came in 1971 when he played the skinhead Dim in the film A Clockwork Orange.
Lived in Buckinghamshire.
After his first marriage failed he married Michel who is half Italian.