Frederick Pyne was born in London on 30th December 1936. Pyne worked as a farmer before serving in the Royal Air Force, he then went to RADA for training as an actor. From 1966 to 1970 he worked on stage productions at the National Theatre at the Old Vic. His Television appearances include Crossroads, Dixon of Dock Green before he became Matt Skilbeck on Emmerdale Farm from 1972 to 1989.