Actor. A character actor who specialized in portraying tough guys and heavies in films, he is probably best known for playing the psychotic cat-loving, iron-hooked 'Steve "the Claw" Michael' in "Dick Tracy's Dilemma" (1947). He began his acting career on Broadway and in 1942 he moved to Hollywood, California to work in films. His first film appearance was an uncredited role in the short "About Face" (1942). A familiar figure in Westerns and crime dramas, he appeared in "Abilene Town" (1946), "The Killers" (1946), "The Harvey Girls" (1946), "The Vigilantes Return" (1947), "Belle Starr's Daughter" (1948), "The Great Gatsby" (1949), "The Enforcer" (1951), "Bend of the River" (1952), "Vera Cruz" (1954), "Kiss Me Deadly" (1955), "Machine-Gun Kelly" (1958), "The George Raft Story" (1961), "How the West Was Won" (1962), "4 for Texas" (1963), and "Winchester '73" (1967 television). His television series credits include "Studio 57," "State Trooper," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "The Californians," "Tales of Wells Fargo," "Gunsmoke," "Have Gun - Will Travel," "Bat Masterson," "Sugarfoot," "Daniel Boone," "Wagon Train," "Death Valley Days," "Bonanza," and "Get Smart." From 1959 to 1960, he was a regular cast member (as first mate 'Joshua MacGregor', having played the character 'Tony Walchek' earlier in the series), in 23 of the 42 of the NBC Western series, "Riverboat," that starred Darren McGavin. His last television appearance was in 1970, in an episode of "Gunsmoke." He died at the age of 81.
Actor. A character actor who specialized in portraying tough guys and heavies in films, he is probably best known for playing the psychotic cat-loving, iron-hooked 'Steve "the Claw" Michael' in "Dick Tracy's Dilemma" (1947). He began his acting career on Broadway and in 1942 he moved to Hollywood, California to work in films. His first film appearance was an uncredited role in the short "About Face" (1942). A familiar figure in Westerns and crime dramas, he appeared in "Abilene Town" (1946), "The Killers" (1946), "The Harvey Girls" (1946), "The Vigilantes Return" (1947), "Belle Starr's Daughter" (1948), "The Great Gatsby" (1949), "The Enforcer" (1951), "Bend of the River" (1952), "Vera Cruz" (1954), "Kiss Me Deadly" (1955), "Machine-Gun Kelly" (1958), "The George Raft Story" (1961), "How the West Was Won" (1962), "4 for Texas" (1963), and "Winchester '73" (1967 television). His television series credits include "Studio 57," "State Trooper," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "The Californians," "Tales of Wells Fargo," "Gunsmoke," "Have Gun - Will Travel," "Bat Masterson," "Sugarfoot," "Daniel Boone," "Wagon Train," "Death Valley Days," "Bonanza," and "Get Smart." From 1959 to 1960, he was a regular cast member (as first mate 'Joshua MacGregor', having played the character 'Tony Walchek' earlier in the series), in 23 of the 42 of the NBC Western series, "Riverboat," that starred Darren McGavin. His last television appearance was in 1970, in an episode of "Gunsmoke." He died at the age of 81.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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