- Lives in Malibu California with his partner Tina Broccoli [July 2011].
- Related to Producer Lloyd Shirley.
- His Adoptive Father insured movies at Pinewood Studios.
- Supports Chelsea Football Club and could often be seen at Stamford Bridge in the VIP box with his pal Richard Attenborough, the star of such classic movies as The Great Escape (1963) and Jurassic Park (1993), who was also at one time Chelsea Football Club's director, and from 2008 the life president of the club.
- Former member of 23 SAS, one of the SAS' two Territorial Army Regiments.
- Like his buddies Nicolas Cage and Charlie Sheen considers nepotism a double edged sword.
- As a child actor appeared in the same British television show as Anthony Hopkins, who advised him to work hard and attempt to study at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, which he managed to do. Less than ten years later he was honored to act with Anthony Hopkins again, in The Silence of the Lambs (1991). Three other actors that he's pals or appeared in movies with, who also studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art are: Peter O'Toole also Roger Moore and Timothy Dalton.
- Is of English, Italian, Irish, and Scottish descent.
- Good buddies with Sir Michael Caine.
- Became buddies with David Bowie after conducting an interview with him on KROQ radio station Los Angeles during the '90s.
- After meeting legendary trainer Cus D'Amato and his young disciple Mike Tyson with former heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson, together with the greatest Muhammad Ali at a boxing gym in Catskill, New York during the early 80s, became so impressed and interested in boxing that he later became a boxing historian and wrote for The Ring magazine (USA).
- Studied Creative Writing at Stratford-upon-Avon College.
- From the late '70s until the early '90s was Assistant Producer to Lloyd Shirley.
- Shortlisted twice for the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize.
- First time he met Muhammad Ali, told Ali he was almost as pretty as himself, Ali responded "you ain't pretty".
- Lives in Hollywood Hills with his significant other Minnie Gupta [January 2016].
- Found working with Peter Fonda in the movie Japan (2008) a very informative and enjoyable experience.
- Took the name Ettington, as Shirley is his family surname, and the Shirley home in Stratford-upon-Avon is a Gothic country house known as Ettington Park. During his lifetime not only was William Shakespeare a well liked companion of the Shirley family, but a frequent guest at their home of Ettington Park. The exterior of the house was used to double as Hill House, in the classic Robert Wise movie, The Haunting (1963), starring Claire Bloom and Richard Johnson.
- Visiting Morocco in 1974 wound up on the set of The Man Who Would Be King (1975), and also wound up being in the film as a featured extra.
- His number one movie is Jaws (1975) and as a child while on vacation in Martha's Vineyard, was offered a very small part in the film.
- Previously engaged to Natasha Richardson.
- Due to his desire to stay true to the characters that he's portraying, and his ability to change his appearance and voice, has used a different speaking voice in practically every movie and television show he's ever been in. Therefore similar to fellow countryman, and fellow character actor Gary Oldman, is more often than not unrecognizable as himself on television and in films. A few classic examples would be his performances in The Shawshank Redemption (1994) also Pulp Fiction (1994) and The Silence of the Lambs (1991).
- His base salary for the movie Japan (2008) was $425,000.
- During the '90s was a Print Model for luxury menswear and leather accessories brand Alfred Dunhill, whose most notable customers are King Charles III and other members of the British Royal Family, also The Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah. He also modeled cigars and cigarette lighters for the Alfred Dunhill brand, which in the past were not only brought to the attention of the general public, by way of several of the earlier James Bond movies, but more famously by wartime British Prime minister Winston Churchill and former monarch of Great Britain, as well as the British Empire, King George VI.
- Owns ChelseaSW6 Management company.
- Has a net worth of $15 million as of 2012.
- Has a slight limp due to a bullet wound in his leg whilst serving in 23 SAS.
- Owns Bullshark Productions production company.
- As a radio DJ in the '80s and early '90s interviewed various bands and solo artists such as: Debbie Harry, Depeche Mode, The Bangles, and Kurt Cobain. As well as directing music videos for British bands: Happy Mondays, Gene Loves Jezebel, and Spear of Destiny.
- Unsure of his actual date of birth as was born around midnight at the home of model and actress Daniela Bianchi.
- In 1989 was invited to Buckingham Palace.
- As a very small child enjoyed making a nuisance of himself on the sets of the James Bond movies You Only Live Twice (1967), On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969), and Diamonds Are Forever (1971), at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire England, U.K.
- Got the nickname 'The Duke of E' from his days as a club and radio DJ.
- Despite his fascination with sharks had a too close for comfort encounter with a Tiger Shark whilst filming Jaws: The Revenge (1987) in the Bahamas.
- Is a Method Actor who uses the same approach to his writing.
- Decided to focus more on writing after a conversation with his biological father on the set of The Hunt for Red October (1990).
- Very first visit to the cinema was the London premiere for the James Bond movie Diamonds Are Forever (1971).
- As of May [2016] rendered himself homeless in order to experience homeless life on the streets of Hollywood for his upcoming novel/screenplay.
- Was initially hired to work on the movie Heat (1995) due to his experience in 23 SAS.
- As an avid believer in ghosts worked on the movie The Shawshank Redemption (1994) during a research visit to Mansfield Reformatory (Ohio).
- [2017-2018] Penning his anticipated novel/screenplay regarding homeless life on the streets of Hollywood.
- Spends a lot of his spare time "ghostwriting" biographies for former members of British and American special forces.
- Is a lifelong animal and wildlife advocate.
- Has appeared in all four Jaws movies: Jaws (1975), Jaws 2 (1978), Jaws 3-D (1983), and Jaws: The Revenge (1987).
- One of his pastimes is cage diving with Great White Sharks in the waters off Guadalupe Island.
- Makes annual contributions to the protection of the "African Big Five" (Leopards, Lions, Elephants, Cape buffalo and Rhinos).
- Publicly recommends and supports the "African Wildlife Foundation".
- Since his last movie Japan (2008), has worked as a writer, and appeared in, but mostly done voiceover work, for TV commercials featuring luxury cars.
- [2016] Donated ten percent of his entire inheritance (approximately $1.2 million dollars) to the "African Wildlife Foundation".
- Frequently donates his time and salaries to various African wildlife societies.
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