Warren Clarke was born in Oldham, Lancashire. His first television appearance was in the long running Granada soap opera Coronation Street, initially as Kenny Pickup in 1966 and then as Gary Bailey in 1968.

His first major film appearance was in Stanley Kubrick's notorious A Clockwork Orange where he played a 'Droog' named 'Dim'. He appeared with McDowell again in the 1973 film O Lucky Man.

He has appeared in a wide range of roles in TV and movie productions both in the UK and abroad. One of his most notable roles was playing a Russian dissident in Clint Eastwood's Firefox.

Seen mostly in serious roles, his comedic talents can be seen in Blackadder: The Cavalier Years, playing Oliver Cromwell. In 1984 he played the uncharacteristic role of the overtly homosexual 'Sophie' Dixon in the landmark Granada series The Jewel in the Crown.

In 1988 he appeared as Colonel Krieger in the first series of LWT's Wish Me Luck. In 1994 He played Bamber in the ITV comedy drama Moving Story.

Since 1996 he has appeared regularly as Detective Superintendent Andy Dalziel in the TV series Dalziel and Pascoe.