He originally trained to be an accountant in New Zealand, but decided to change his career path in 1950 when he made his stage debut as Sebastian in Twelfth Night.
Ia awalnya dilatih menjadi akuntan di Selandia Baru, namun memutuskan untuk mengubah susunan kariernya pada 1950 saat ia membuat debut panggungnya sebagai Sebastian dalam film Twelfth Night.