Actor. He is best remembered for his portrayal of the headstrong Jefferson Jones in "The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid" (1972). Born into a respectable family, the first of two children born unto a banker and a housewife, after attaining his degree in theatrical arts from the University of Minnesota, he began his career as a leading man on the stage in stock companies. While attending a social function at the prestigious Cocoanut Grove nightclub, he was discovered by Academy Award winning actor James Stewart. Impressed by his dark good looks, slim physique, and articulate voice, he took notice of his potential and arranged for him to begin a career in the film industry beginning with him appearing alongside him per a supporting role in "Call Northside 777" (1948). From there, he would go on to flourish as a notable character actor appearing in over 80 features; often typecast as husbands, fathers, relatives, wealthy bachelors, grandfathers, white-collared workers, clergymen, retail clerks, businessmen, landlords, neighbors, curmudgeons, eccentrics, doctors, politicians, lawyers, jurors, district attorneys, retail clerks, educators, sheriffs, bailiffs, deputies, state troopers, detectives, policemen, authority figures, soldiers, lieutenants, sergeants, judges, and patriarchs. He appeared in such feature films as "Return to Peyton Place" (1961), "One Man's Way" (1964), "Invitation to a Gunfighter" (1964), "Yours, Mine, and Ours" (1968), "Targets" (1968), "The Young Animals" (1968), "At Long Last" (1975), and "Rollercoaster" (1977). On television, he appeared in numerous guest spots on such syndicated sitcoms as "That's O'Toole," "The Real McCoys," "The Twilight Zone," "Peter Loves Mary," "Thriller," "The Law and Mrs. Jones," "Outlaws," "Adventures in Paradise," "Dennis the Menace," "The Untouchables," "Going My Way," "My Three Sons," "Perry Mason," "Dr. Kildare," "Ripcord," "Breaking Point," "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea," "Hazel," "Profiles in Courage," "My Favorite Martian," "Branded," "Gilligan's Island," "The Big Valley," "I Dream of Jeannie," "Shane," "The Farmer's Daughter," "Iron Horse," "Bewitched," "The Guns of Will Sonnett," "Love on a Rooftop," "Judd for the Defense," "Death Valley Days," "Gomer Pyle: USMC," "Mannix," "Mod Squad," "Gunsmoke," "Mayberry R.F.D.," "The Waltons," "Green Acres," "Room 222," "Bonanza," "Maude," "Marcus Welby, M.D.," "Adam-12," "Starsky and Hutch," "Barney Miller," "Soap," "Private Benjamin," "Father Murphy," "Teachers Only," "CBS Afternoon Special," and "Trapper John, M.D.". During his career, he was an honorary member of Actors Equity, served in the United States Army during World War II, was a member of the Hollywood Democratic Committee, had been a regular parishioner of the Catholic church, had been a theatrical instructor for the Pasadena Playhouse, was the celebrity spokesman for H&R Block and Greyhound, presided on his local charters of the American Red Cross and the Boys & Girls Clubs, sat on the board of directors for the Actors Alley Repertory Theater, had been a notable audiobook narrator, was one of the many founding members of the Canyon Theatre Guild, had been a commercial model for the Forbes Agency, and he was married to character actress Norma Ransom from 1947 until his death (their union produced two children). Upon his 1983 retirement, he spent the remainder of his life being a regular attendee at autograph conventions, and was involved in charitable and religious causes until his death.