He was born in Sayles, Manchester, England. Although he was best known for his original play A Man for All Seasons, which won awards on the stage and in its film version, most of his writing was screenplays for films or television. He died in Petersfield, Hampshire, England.
Among those he received screen-credit for writing were:
- Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
- Doctor Zhivago (1965)
- A Man for All Seasons (1966)
- Ryan's Daughter (1970)
- The Bounty (1984)
