During his schooling, he acted in a production of Henry V with his classmate Christopher Lee. After completing his education from Eton College, he served in the Royal Navy during World War Two by working on torpedo boats in the English Channel and the North Sea. 

He also appeared in a few London stage productions and films including his role as Marley in the Alastair Sim's A Christmas Carol. 

He was born as Daniel Patrick Macnee on 6 February 1922 in London and grew up in Lambourn.