A memorial service was held for him at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, London on 20 February 1950.
He died of a heart attack a few hours after a performance of Harvey at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London where he'd made his West End debut 7 years earlier.
He was married to Lonnie had daughters Dianne and Elaine and a son, John who was later known as Nicholas.
He was born in the Sparkbrook district of Birmingham.