He was made a Knight Bachelor in the 1986 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his contributions and services to the arts and to the charity, Mencap.
In the 1992 Queen's New Year Honours List, he was made a Life Peer, and is known as Lord Rix.
Father of Shelley Elspet Rix (b. 1951, died July 2005), Louisa Rix (b. 1955), Jamie Rix (b. 1959), and Jonathan Rix (b. 1961).
He was awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1977 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his charitable services to the mentally handicapped.
In 1954 made a short film 'Traveller's Tale' which wasn't released.