Actor. He is best remembered for his portrayal of the level-headed Lt. Pat Sumner in "The Rookie" (1959). Born Herbert Armstrong, he was raised within a traditional working-class family. After attaining his degree in theatrical arts from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in his native New York City, New York, he began his career as a leading man on the stage in stock companies. While attending a luncheon at the prestigious Russian Tea Room, he was introduced to director Nicholas Ray. Impressed by his slim physique, blonde good looks, and unique voice, he took notice of his potential and arranged for him to begin a career in the film industry beginning with him appearing under his supervision per a supporting role in "Party Girl" (1958). From there, he would go on to flourish as a recognizable character actor appearing in over 60 features; often typecast as husbands, fathers, relatives, boyfriends, blue-collared guys, doctors, politicians, jurors, district attorneys, lawyers, city slickers, policemen, detectives, reporters, sergeants, cowboys, bailiffs, deputies, waiters, doormen, chauffeurs, landlords, neighbors, eccentrics, curmudgeons, educators, soldiers, sailors, businessmen, authority figures, guards, shopkeepers, and patriarchs. He appeared in such feature films as "The Young Captives" (1959), "The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond" (1960), "Gun Street" (1961), "Cape Fear" (1962), "For Pete's Sake" (1974), "The Great Smokey Roadblock" (1977), "Mean Dog Blues" (1978), "Seems Like Old Times" (1980), "Big Trouble" (1986), "Loose Cannons" (1990), and "Dating Games People Play" (2005). On television, he appeared in numerous guest spots on such syndicated sitcoms as "Mr. Lucky," "Peter Gunn," "The Rifleman," "Route 66," "Ben Casey," "Dr. Kildare," "Grindl," "The Munsters," "Kraft Suspense Theatre," "Medical Center," "Days of Our Lives," "Breaking Point," "Empire," "McMillian & Wife," "Gunsmoke," "My Three Sons," "The Smith Family," "Police Story," "Lucas Tanner," "Hawaiian Five-O," "Most Wanted," "Rich Man, Poor Man," "Barnaby Jones," "The Rockford Files," "The Stockard Channing Show," "A Man Called Sloane," "Mrs. Columbo," "Little House on the Prairie," "ABC Weekend Specials," "The Waltons," "Bret Maverick," "Starman," and "7th Heaven". During his career, he was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, was supportive of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, was a member of the Hollywood Democratic Committee, had been a regular parishioner of the Episcopal church, presided as a chairman for his local charters of the American Red Cross and the Boy Scouts, had been a commercial model for the Forbes Agency, was a theatrical instructor for the Pasadena Playhouse, had been the celebrity spokesman for Lipton Tea and Zebra Ballpoint Pens, and he sat on the board of directors for the California division of Habitat for Humanity. He never married nor fathered any children.

Actor. He is best remembered for his portrayal of the level-headed Lt. Pat Sumner in "The Rookie" (1959). Born Herbert Armstrong, he was raised within a traditional working-class family. After attaining his degree in theatrical arts from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in his native New York City, New York, he began his career as a leading man on the stage in stock companies. While attending a luncheon at the prestigious Russian Tea Room, he was introduced to director Nicholas Ray. Impressed by his slim physique, blonde good looks, and unique voice, he took notice of his potential and arranged for him to begin a career in the film industry beginning with him appearing under his supervision per a supporting role in "Party Girl" (1958). From there, he would go on to flourish as a recognizable character actor appearing in over 60 features; often typecast as husbands, fathers, relatives, boyfriends, blue-collared guys, doctors, politicians, jurors, district attorneys, lawyers, city slickers, policemen, detectives, reporters, sergeants, cowboys, bailiffs, deputies, waiters, doormen, chauffeurs, landlords, neighbors, eccentrics, curmudgeons, educators, soldiers, sailors, businessmen, authority figures, guards, shopkeepers, and patriarchs. He appeared in such feature films as "The Young Captives" (1959), "The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond" (1960), "Gun Street" (1961), "Cape Fear" (1962), "For Pete's Sake" (1974), "The Great Smokey Roadblock" (1977), "Mean Dog Blues" (1978), "Seems Like Old Times" (1980), "Big Trouble" (1986), "Loose Cannons" (1990), and "Dating Games People Play" (2005). On television, he appeared in numerous guest spots on such syndicated sitcoms as "Mr. Lucky," "Peter Gunn," "The Rifleman," "Route 66," "Ben Casey," "Dr. Kildare," "Grindl," "The Munsters," "Kraft Suspense Theatre," "Medical Center," "Days of Our Lives," "Breaking Point," "Empire," "McMillian & Wife," "Gunsmoke," "My Three Sons," "The Smith Family," "Police Story," "Lucas Tanner," "Hawaiian Five-O," "Most Wanted," "Rich Man, Poor Man," "Barnaby Jones," "The Rockford Files," "The Stockard Channing Show," "A Man Called Sloane," "Mrs. Columbo," "Little House on the Prairie," "ABC Weekend Specials," "The Waltons," "Bret Maverick," "Starman," and "7th Heaven". During his career, he was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, was supportive of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, was a member of the Hollywood Democratic Committee, had been a regular parishioner of the Episcopal church, presided as a chairman for his local charters of the American Red Cross and the Boy Scouts, had been a commercial model for the Forbes Agency, was a theatrical instructor for the Pasadena Playhouse, had been the celebrity spokesman for Lipton Tea and Zebra Ballpoint Pens, and he sat on the board of directors for the California division of Habitat for Humanity. He never married nor fathered any children.

Bio by: Lowell Thurgood