Actor. Born in Newport, Kentucky, he began his career young, making his New York City theater debut in 1902 in "The Children of Kings" which ran for less than a year. He worked his way up through the chorus and walk on roles and appeared in his first name role, 'Jump Steady', in the Broadway production of "The Chocolate Dandies." He found a niche as a support player, making his most notable mark as 'Teddy Brewster' in the Broadway production of "Arsenic and Old Lace" which ran from January 1941 to June 1944. He reprised the role of Teddy in Frank Capra's motion picture version of the play in 1944. His career then gravitated toward film roles and he appeared in another two dozen films and television plays, including "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" in 1945; "Mrs. Skeffington" in 1947; 1950's "Fancy Pants" in which he portrayed President Theodore Roosevelt; and a 1955 televised reprise of his Teddy Brewster role in "The Best of Broadway." His last filmed appearance was in the television series, "Car 54 Where Are You?" in 1961. He returned to Broadway to appear in "Never Too Late," which ran from November 1962 to April 1965, before retiring. His career had spanned more than 50 years. He died at a board meeting of the Actors' Fund of America in New York City, New York.
Actor. Born in Newport, Kentucky, he began his career young, making his New York City theater debut in 1902 in "The Children of Kings" which ran for less than a year. He worked his way up through the chorus and walk on roles and appeared in his first name role, 'Jump Steady', in the Broadway production of "The Chocolate Dandies." He found a niche as a support player, making his most notable mark as 'Teddy Brewster' in the Broadway production of "Arsenic and Old Lace" which ran from January 1941 to June 1944. He reprised the role of Teddy in Frank Capra's motion picture version of the play in 1944. His career then gravitated toward film roles and he appeared in another two dozen films and television plays, including "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" in 1945; "Mrs. Skeffington" in 1947; 1950's "Fancy Pants" in which he portrayed President Theodore Roosevelt; and a 1955 televised reprise of his Teddy Brewster role in "The Best of Broadway." His last filmed appearance was in the television series, "Car 54 Where Are You?" in 1961. He returned to Broadway to appear in "Never Too Late," which ran from November 1962 to April 1965, before retiring. His career had spanned more than 50 years. He died at a board meeting of the Actors' Fund of America in New York City, New York.
Bio by: Iola
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