Born in Batley, Yorkshire, Gordon Rollings began his career in radio in Israel, then progressed into the circus in Paris and trained as a clown. His first television appearance was in Play School (1964) (this was the very first broadcast on BBC2). He then went onto appear as Charlie Moffit in Coronation Street (1960). From there a progression of various television and film appearances occurred. He found late fame as Arkwright in the John Smith's Yorkshire Bitter ads with his beloved "Tonto". He died, after reaching a height of notoriety, of cancer in Bristol Royal Infirmary.