 He worked as a carpenter for the Welsh National Opera, and was the Property Master at the Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham.In 1970 at the age of 22, he was accepted into London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) - the alma mater of actors such as John Gielgud, Glenda Jackson, and Anthony Hopkins, but later expressed little interest in pursuing the classical route.He also appeared as a CI5 agent in an episode of The Professionals ('Black Out' S4E2)

After graduation from RADA, Cross performed in several stage plays at Duke's Playhouse where he was seen in "Macbeth", "The Importance of Being Earnest" and Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman."