The son of former Lord Chancellor, Michael Havers, he was born in London. His first film appearance was a small part in Pope Joan (1972), but his first major success came with the leading role in a BBC dramatisation of Nicholas Nickleby (1977), closely followed by another BBC drama serial, A Horseman Riding By. By the time he appeared in Chariots of Fire (1981), he was a familiar face on television. Despite appearing in films such as Empire of the Sun (1987) and A Passage to India (1984), he never made a name as a film star, but has notched up a succession of starring roles on television. He co-starred for several years in the 1980s BBC sitcom, Don't Wait Up, alongside Tony Britton.