One of England's most popular actors for more than two decades, Martin is noted for his versatility. He has starred in over 100 TV roles, his long TV career beginning in 1967 with "ITV Play of the Week: Love on the Dole (#12.20)" (1967). Prior to "The Professionals" (1977), he had always been careful to be very different in each of his roles to avoid being typecast, and to spend long periods in the theatre. His theatrical career has been very distinguished, with a string of West End successes, beginning in 1967 with the first revival of "Look Back in Anger" and most recently on Broadway as Lord Goring in "An Ideal Husband" which won him a Tony nomination and a Drama Desk award for Best Actor. The Professionals was an international hit, and brought him offers of similar roles. Never one to take the obvious route, Martin refused them all, including the American series "The Equalizer" (1985), preferring variety of work to riches. He works almost exclusively in England, where he lives in a beautiful Quaker house in Norfolk, once owned by an ancestor of Abraham Lincoln. He is a pilot, and owns and flies a vintage biplane, a Boeing Stearman, along with his wife Vicky. Reticent about his private life, he dislikes interviews, and has little respect for the press. Recent projects are a hospital drama, "Always and Everyone" (1999) from Granada, in which he plays consultant Robert Kingsford, and as Adam Dalgliesh in the BBC adaptations of P.D. James 's novels "Death in Holy Orders" (2003) and "The Murder Room" (2004).

Father of Joe Shaw , Luke Shaw and Sophie Shaw .Is a vegan.Was nominated for Broadway's 1996 Tony Award as Best Actor (Play) for Oscar Wilde 's "An Ideal Husband."The episode of "The New Avengers" (1976) in which he appeared was the first time he and Lewis Collins starred together. They later went on to star in the "The Professionals" (1977).Turned down the lead role on the television series "The Equalizer" (1985). The part was ultimately played by Edward Woodward .Shaw is patron of the Hillside Animal Sanctuary at Frettenham, Norfolk, England. This was founded in 1995 to help and campaign for animals in need and to bring public awareness to the millions of animals suffering every day in the intensive factory farming industry.Blocked repeats of "The Professionals" (1977) until the mid-1990s.Turned down an offer to audition for the role of James Bond in the late 1970s.