Ian Yule was a professional soldier for much of his adult life; a career soldier who saw service all over the world. He broke into films after working as an uncredited stunt man on two classics: Ben-Hur (1959) and The Longest Day (1962). His ease and familiarity with firearms, and his thorough knowledge of fighting men made him perfect for casting in action films and as a 'tough guy,' and he landed his first early parts in the late 1960s.