Actor. Born in Rogersville, Tennessee he attended Columbia University on a music scholarship, graduating in 1914. His career started on stage in 1921 with Minnie Maddern Fiske's theatrical troupe. He did not make a film debut until 1944's “None Shall Escape.” He became a notable character actor, often being cast in ethnic roles, such as Kofir in “A Thousand and One Nights” (1945), Mordecai in “Queen Esther” (1948), Hassan Bey in “Kim” (1950), and Gaspar in “Ben-Hur” (1959). This trend continued in his television appearances in such roles as Munyo in “Rawhide,” Goro in “Star Trek” and El Cuerno in “Gunsmoke.” In a film and television career spanning more than four decades and scores of roles, other notable appearances were in 1949's "All the King's Men," "Angels in the Outfield" (1951), "Springfield Rifle" (1952) "Julius Caesar" (1953), "Jupiter's Darling" (1955), "Friendly Persuasion" (1956), "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "Sergeants 3" (1962) and the television programs "Bonanza," "Cheyenne," "Wagon Train," "Perry Mason," "Night Gallery," and the 1978 TV mini-series "How the West Was Won." He succumbed to cardiac arrest at the age of 88.
Actor. Born in Rogersville, Tennessee he attended Columbia University on a music scholarship, graduating in 1914. His career started on stage in 1921 with Minnie Maddern Fiske's theatrical troupe. He did not make a film debut until 1944's “None Shall Escape.” He became a notable character actor, often being cast in ethnic roles, such as Kofir in “A Thousand and One Nights” (1945), Mordecai in “Queen Esther” (1948), Hassan Bey in “Kim” (1950), and Gaspar in “Ben-Hur” (1959). This trend continued in his television appearances in such roles as Munyo in “Rawhide,” Goro in “Star Trek” and El Cuerno in “Gunsmoke.” In a film and television career spanning more than four decades and scores of roles, other notable appearances were in 1949's "All the King's Men," "Angels in the Outfield" (1951), "Springfield Rifle" (1952) "Julius Caesar" (1953), "Jupiter's Darling" (1955), "Friendly Persuasion" (1956), "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "Sergeants 3" (1962) and the television programs "Bonanza," "Cheyenne," "Wagon Train," "Perry Mason," "Night Gallery," and the 1978 TV mini-series "How the West Was Won." He succumbed to cardiac arrest at the age of 88.
Bio by: Iola
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