Currie was born Finlay Jefferson. A Scottish character actor with flowing gray hair and a hefty body, he debuted on stage in 1898. Thirty-four years later, in 1932, he made his first film, The Frightened Lady. He appeared in character roles in many American and British films, often playing patriarches or other authorities. Currie's most notable role was as the terrifying convict Magwitch in David Lean's Great Expectations, a performance for which he received a "Best Supporting Actor" Oscar nomination.