He was the nude model for the statue of Ariel on the facade of the
BBC's Broadcasting House in London.
He was offered the role of the First Doctor in Doctor Who before William Hartnell won the role. French was later cast in a small part in the 25th anniversary special Silver Nemesis: Part One (1988) as a subtle reference to this.
He claimed he saw a female ghost in Hampton Court after acting in a play there.
He began as a child actor and was a singer and dancer. His heyday was in the 1920's and 30's.
He was a member of the International Ballet Company.
He acted in both the Eon James Bond franchise and the Doctor Who franchise.
He had a long career at the Old Vic and at the Open Air Theatre in Regent's Park, with a special penchant for playing Shakespearean clowns. He was noted in his youth for his roles as Puck in "Midsummer Night's Dream" and Ariel in "The Tempest".
He and Burt Lancaster were the only actors in Visconti's "The Leopard" who dubbed themselves for the English-language version of the film.
He was educated at the London School of Choristers.