Actor, Comedian. He is most remembered for his comedic roles in the motion pictures "10" and "Arthur." Born in Dagenham, east London, England, he became a comedian because of his short 5 feet, 2 inches height, and a defective left foot from a birth defect (this was surgically corrected when he was a young boy). He won a music scholarship to Oxford University, graduating in 1960, and was recruited for a comedy play "Beyond the Fringe," which played in London for two years. In "Beyond the Fringe" he was paired with comic Peter Cook, and they remained friends throughout their careers. His screen debut was in the 1966 film "The Wrong Box" and a follow-up film in 1967, "Bedazzled." Both films were a success and his success in comedy continued. In 1979, he was given the lead role in "10" after actor George Segal departed from the movie. This film and "Arthur" (1981) made him a star, marking his peak as a film actor. In June 2001, he was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE). In 1995, he was diagnosed with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, and he retired from making any additional films.

Actor, Comedian. He is most remembered for his comedic roles in the motion pictures "10" and "Arthur." Born in Dagenham, east London, England, he became a comedian because of his short 5 feet, 2 inches height, and a defective left foot from a birth defect (this was surgically corrected when he was a young boy). He won a music scholarship to Oxford University, graduating in 1960, and was recruited for a comedy play "Beyond the Fringe," which played in London for two years. In "Beyond the Fringe" he was paired with comic Peter Cook, and they remained friends throughout their careers. His screen debut was in the 1966 film "The Wrong Box" and a follow-up film in 1967, "Bedazzled." Both films were a success and his success in comedy continued. In 1979, he was given the lead role in "10" after actor George Segal departed from the movie. This film and "Arthur" (1981) made him a star, marking his peak as a film actor. In June 2001, he was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE). In 1995, he was diagnosed with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, and he retired from making any additional films.

Bio by: Kit and Morgan Benson