German-born Peter Gilmore came to the UK at the age of six, to be raised by relatives. He quit school at age 14, and pursuing his dream of becoming an actor, attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts for a short time, before being expelled. A stint in the army led to the discovery that he had a talent for singing, and after his discharge from the army he joined a singing group, The George Mitchell Singers. He also appeared in a number of stage plays, but they didn't lead to the success he was looking for.He soon gave up singing and concentrated on his acting career, and began achieving a degree of success in Europe and the U.S. in TV commercials. As a result of these, he started to receive roles in comedies, notably the "Carry On" series. In the early 1970s he finally achieved a great degree of success as star of the long-running British serial, The Onedin Line (1971).