Glaswegian-born actor, screenwriter, and playwright, the son of Charles Neil Grainger and his wife Elizabeth (née Gall),whose early life took him to London where he was raised and later trained at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts.
He first set foot on stage at the tender age of thirteen and waited patiently for eight years to see his first play performed. His first professional acting gig was with Dundee Rep in 1961, a milestone that paved the way for many seasons of leading roles at the National Theatre under the visionary direction of Laurence Olivier.
Among his notable performances at the National Theatre were his portrayal of Macduff in 1972, opposite the renowned Anthony Hopkins as Macbeth, and his starring turn in The Marriage of Figaro in 1974. Additionally, he made a significant impact on Broadway, featuring in the comedy plays The Misanthrope (1975) and There's A Girl in My Soup (1967-68).
Grainger's television career spanned over five decades, beginning with small screen appearances in 1952. Primarily, he worked as a supporting actor, but he also collaborated on several TV screenplays during the 1980s and 90s, as well as adapting one of his own plays, Four to One (1986),for the BBC.
Throughout his illustrious career, he has made notable guest appearances in various TV shows, including Private Schulz (1981),Doctor Who (1963),Poirot (1989),Dalziel and Pascoe (1996),Foyle's War (2002),and Midsomer Murders (1997).
In his personal life, Grainger was thrice married, with his most recent marriage being to the acclaimed American-born British actress Zoë Wanamaker.
