- The godfathers to his two children were Noël Coward and Alec Guinness.
- Became very deaf in his later years, which curtailed his acting career.
- Owned a small English vineyard.
- Originally pursued a career in medicine, practicing for one year before he became an actor. He wrote a regular column, Doctor in the Wings, for World Medicine.
- His grandfather and great-grandfather were doctors, so he was expected to follow in their footsteps. He thought he could be a doctor with amateur acting as a hobby. After a year in practice, he decided to be an actor. He chose a new surname, as he thought it ethically wrong to use his Dr's name. He picked Leech as it's an old fashioned term for doctor.
- Attended Trinity College in Dublin, studying for three medical degrees.
- His second wife wrote several novels under the name Diane Pearson.
- Began acting at the Gate Theatre in Dublin, turning semi-professional 1942-45.
- His screen personae generally cultivated an air of brash superiority and smugness, which caused him to be typecast as authority figures, such as police officers, senior military men or surgeons.
- Had two daughters, Sarah Jane and Eliza.
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