He seems like a nice and reasonable chap
...in his old interviews, now surfacing on youtube.
they say he was an asshole but eh, great actor. seems authentic on talk shows.
There are quite a few chat shows where he could be outrageous.
He had a reputation as a hellraiser, and a heavy drinker.
I personally think he carefully cultivated his bad boy reputation, because that never really does a man's career any harm, or at least back in the 60s and 70s it didn't. Keeps you in the public eye and keeps the press writing stories about you.
There was one famous UK chat show where he walked on staggering, with what appeared to be a jug full of vodka and orange. Or was it...?
interesting. now that you mention this, it seems there were a few of in that era with the same MO. Wonder if he ran with Richard Harris, Burton, and Robert Shaw. What others were known for kicking up their heels?
Heck you just gave me an idea. I may need to start a list of 'bad boy brit actors from the 60s-70s' as a companion to my 'madmen directors' list, haha.