He became the first person to direct a Doctor Who (1963) serial in colour, which was also shot - uniquely for Doctor Who (1963) - entirely on film (Spearhead from Space: Episode 1 (1970)), broadcast in 1970). It is also the only serial he directed for the series which still exists in its entirety and was the debut for Jon Pertwee as the Third Doctor.
He met his Swedish wife while he was working in Swedish theatre.
Took his professional name from his grandfather, Johan Martinus Buitenhuis, a Rotterdam meat trader.