He was born Richard Carey Winter, the third of four sons, at Meopham, Kent, and made his film debut in Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 production of Romeo and Juliet in the role of Gregory. Subsequent films included If...., Nicholas and Alexandra and the first film by Derek Jarman, Sebastiane.
On television, he was best known for his roles in the sitcom Please Sir!, as one of the main character's teaching colleagues, and in the London Weekend Television comedy A Fine Romance, as the brother-in-law of Judi Dench's character. He also played Uncas in the television series The Last of the Mohicans (1971). His last role before his AIDS-related death was as John (the servant) in Zeffirelli's 1996 adaptation of Jane Eyre.
