Ian Macrae Hamish Wilson was born in Hampstead, London (not Devon as stated on IMDb). His father was a mechanical engineer, as was his grandfather. His grandfather had actually been chief engineer to the Egyptian government in the late 19th century and received the honorary title of "Pasha." His maternal grandmother was of Argentine birth, his maternal grandfather being a diplomat and South American mine owner. The second of four children, he remained unmarried and childless.

A perennial bit player, in nearly all Boulting Brothers-produced films. His short bespectacled form could either be menacing or meek, depending on the situation, but always memorable.