attaining his degree in theatrical arts from Princeton University, he began his career as a leading man on the stage in stock companies. After meeting director Frank Tuttle while attending a social function at the prestigious Cocoanut Grove nightclub, he was so impressed by his dark good looks, slim physique, and unique voice, that he arranged for him to begin a career in the film industry beginning with him appearing under his supervision per a supporting role in "Roman Scandals" (1933). From there, he would go on to flourish as a notable character actor appearing in over 130 features; often typecast as husbands, fathers, relatives, wealthy bachelors, businessmen, white-collared workers, salesmen, engineers, technicians, mailmen, soda jerks, clergymen, landlords, neighbors, eccentrics, curmudgeons, sugar daddies, gardeners, politicians, lawyers, judges, district attorneys, retail clerks, waiters, doormen, chauffeurs, bellhops, detectives, reporters, secretaries, medics, doctors, therapists, managers, vendors, grocers, aristocrats, sheriffs, bailiffs, deputies, state troopers, cowboys, guards, policemen, city slickers, sergeants, lieutenants, authority figures, military men, snoops, gossips, and patriarchs. He appeared in such feature films as "Ready for Love" (1934), "She Married Her Boss" (1935), "Rhythm on the Range" (1936), "It Happened in Hollywood" (1937), "The Shop Around the Corner" (1940), "Blossoms in the Dust" (1941), "My Gal Sal" (1942), "Young Ideas" (1943), "Up in Arms" (1944), "Christmas in Connecticut" (1945), "Behind Green Lights" (1946), "Calendar Girl" (1947), "Hollow Triumph" (1948), "Bride for Sale" (1949), "The Sun Sets at Dawn" (1950), "Flood Tide" (1958), and "Sweet Bird of Youth" (1962). On television, he appeared in numerous guest spots on such syndicated sitcoms as "The Adventures of Jim Bowie," "The Gale Storm Show," "Black Saddle," "The Texan," "Harrigan and Son," "Sugarfoot," "Hawaiian Eye," "The Rifleman," "Maverick," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," and "The Californians". During his career, he was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, was supportive of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, had been a member of the Hollywood Democratic Committee, was a regular parishioner of the Episcopal church, presided on his local charters of the American Red Cross and the Boys & Girls Clubs, was a commercial model for the Forbes Agency, had been the celebrity spokesman for Maxwell House Coffee and Paper Mate Ballpoint Pens, was a licensed real estate agent, had been a certified banker, was a theatrical instructor for the Pasadena Playhouse, and he was married to socialite Patricia Arnt with whom he fathered three children. Following his 1962 retirement, he began to breed and import French Charolais cattle at his ranch on Orcas Island.

attaining his degree in theatrical arts from Princeton University, he began his career as a leading man on the stage in stock companies. After meeting director Frank Tuttle while attending a social function at the prestigious Cocoanut Grove nightclub, he was so impressed by his dark good looks, slim physique, and unique voice, that he arranged for him to begin a career in the film industry beginning with him appearing under his supervision per a supporting role in "Roman Scandals" (1933). From there, he would go on to flourish as a notable character actor appearing in over 130 features; often typecast as husbands, fathers, relatives, wealthy bachelors, businessmen, white-collared workers, salesmen, engineers, technicians, mailmen, soda jerks, clergymen, landlords, neighbors, eccentrics, curmudgeons, sugar daddies, gardeners, politicians, lawyers, judges, district attorneys, retail clerks, waiters, doormen, chauffeurs, bellhops, detectives, reporters, secretaries, medics, doctors, therapists, managers, vendors, grocers, aristocrats, sheriffs, bailiffs, deputies, state troopers, cowboys, guards, policemen, city slickers, sergeants, lieutenants, authority figures, military men, snoops, gossips, and patriarchs. He appeared in such feature films as "Ready for Love" (1934), "She Married Her Boss" (1935), "Rhythm on the Range" (1936), "It Happened in Hollywood" (1937), "The Shop Around the Corner" (1940), "Blossoms in the Dust" (1941), "My Gal Sal" (1942), "Young Ideas" (1943), "Up in Arms" (1944), "Christmas in Connecticut" (1945), "Behind Green Lights" (1946), "Calendar Girl" (1947), "Hollow Triumph" (1948), "Bride for Sale" (1949), "The Sun Sets at Dawn" (1950), "Flood Tide" (1958), and "Sweet Bird of Youth" (1962). On television, he appeared in numerous guest spots on such syndicated sitcoms as "The Adventures of Jim Bowie," "The Gale Storm Show," "Black Saddle," "The Texan," "Harrigan and Son," "Sugarfoot," "Hawaiian Eye," "The Rifleman," "Maverick," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," and "The Californians". During his career, he was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, was supportive of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, had been a member of the Hollywood Democratic Committee, was a regular parishioner of the Episcopal church, presided on his local charters of the American Red Cross and the Boys & Girls Clubs, was a commercial model for the Forbes Agency, had been the celebrity spokesman for Maxwell House Coffee and Paper Mate Ballpoint Pens, was a licensed real estate agent, had been a certified banker, was a theatrical instructor for the Pasadena Playhouse, and he was married to socialite Patricia Arnt with whom he fathered three children. Following his 1962 retirement, he began to breed and import French Charolais cattle at his ranch on Orcas Island.

Bio by: Lowell Thurgood