Peter Bowles

Bowles was born in London, England, the son of Sarah Jane and Herbert Reginald Bowles. His father was a chauffeur and butler at a stately home in Warwickshire, but upon the outbreak of World War II he was seconded to work as an engineer at RollsRoyce and moved the family to Nottingham. Bowles attended Nottingham High Pavement Grammar School, where he was taught English by the novelist Stanley Middleton, and then won a scholarship to train as an actor at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art , where he is still an associate.

After playing his first comedy role on TV in an episode of Rising Damp, Bowles was often seen as a comedy actor and parts in comedy series such as Only When I Laugh, The Bounder, Executive Stress and To the Manor Born followed however, he turned down The Good Life.

Source: Wikipedia