Actor. He is best remembered for his portrayal of the outspoken Sgt. Freebee in "Zebra in the Kitchen" (1965). After attaining his degree in civil engineering from Union College, he began his career as a leading man in stock companies. Upon being discovered by director Delbert Mann while attending a casting call for bit players, he was so impressed by his dark good looks, baritone voice, and stealth physique, he took notice of his potential and arranged for him to begin a career in the film industry beginning with him appearing in a supporting role per his supervision in "Marty" (1955). From there, he would go on to enjoy a fruitful career as a notable character actor appearing in over 170 features; often typecast as villains, cowboys, bartenders, sheriffs, deputies, henchmen, gigolos, conmen, aristocrats, playboys, husbands, fathers, blue-collared guys, chauffeurs, waiters, doormen, bellhops, retail clerks, salesmen, soldiers, sailors, detectives, reporters, authority figures, athletes, mechanics, eccentrics, landlords, neighbors, curmudgeons, educators, historical figures, doctors, and, in his later years, patriarchs. He appeared in such feature films as "The Ten Commandments" (1956), "The Persuader" (1957), "The Heart Is a Rebel" (1958), "Face of a Fugitive" (1959), "Gunfight at Comanche Creek" (1963), "For Pete's Sake" (1966), "The Last Challenge" (1967), "Support Your Local Sherriff!" (1969), "Joni" (1979), "Say Yes" (1986), "Student Confidential" (1987), and "Primary Colors" (1998). On television, he appeared in numerous guest spots on such syndicated sitcoms as "The Millionaire," "Buckskin," "Mackenzie's Raiders," "Mike Hammer," "State Trooper," "Wagon Train," "The Restless Gun," "The Texan," "Men Into Space," "Tombstone Territory," "Fury," "Wichita Town," "Bourbon Street Beat," "Wrangler," "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp," "Sugarfoot," "Tales of Wells Fargo," "Death Valley Days," "Riverboat," "Have Gun - Will Travel," "The Loretta Young Show," "Stagecoach West," "Shotgun Slade," "Cheyenne," "Kraft Mystery Theatre," "Laramie," "Stoney Burke," "77 Sunset Strip," "The Untouchables," "Combat!," "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea," "Destry," "Perry Mason," "Get Smart," "I Dream of Jeannie," "12 O'Clock High," "The Fugitive," "Lassie," "Family Affair," "Mod Squad," "Bonanza," "The Guns of Will Sonnett," "Daniel Boone," "The Name of the Game," "Dan August," "Circle of Fear," "Columbo," "Gunsmoke," "McCloud," "Planet of the Apes," "Cannon," "Mannix," "Police Woman," "The Streets of San Francisco," "Little House on the Prairie," "Wonder Woman," "The Six Million Dollar Man," "Quincy, M.E.," "Enos," "The Magical World of Disney," "Hotel," "Bare Essence," "Fame," "The A-Team," "Call to Glory," "MacGyver," "Dallas," "Cagney & Lacey," "Highway to Heaven," "Simon & Simon," "Picket Fences," "The X-Files," "Freddy's Nightmares," "Melrose Place," and "The Client." During his career, he was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, was supportive of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, had been a regular parishioner of the Catholic church, was a member of the Hollywood Democratic Committee, was the original designer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, had been the founder of the Chamber Theatre, presided as a chairman for his local charters of the American Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity, had been a male model for the Forbes Agency, was the celebrity spokesman for Pentel Writing Instruments, and he was married to stockbroker Susan Graw from 1977 to 2000 (their union ended upon his death and produced one child).