Actor. He is best remembered for his portrayal of the headstrong Ted Allision in "The Mad Ghoul" (1943). Born Marden McBroom, he was raised within a family of wealth and position. Upon attaining his degree in theatrical arts from Northwestern University, he began his career as a leading man in stock companies. After being introduced to press agent Henry Willson while attending a social function at the Cocoanut Grove nightclub, he was so impressed by his slim physique, blonde good looks, and distinctive voice, that he took notice of his potential and arranged for him to begin a career in the film industry beginning with him appearing "The Sea Hawk" (1940). From there, he would go on to flourish as a notable character actor appearing in over 75 features; often cast as husbands, fathers, relatives, boyfriends, musicians, aviators, adventurers, cowboys, waiters, doormen, chauffeurs, bellhops, bankers, retail clerks, managers, soldiers, sailors, detectives, reporters, landlords, neighbors, eccentrics, curmudgeons, politicians, policemen, city slickers, sidekicks, henchmen, guards, doctors, white-collared workers, aristocrats, sergeants, lieutenants, and authority figures. He appeared in such feature films as "The Man Who Knew Too Much" (1940), "The Sea Wolf" (1941), "Flying Tigers" (1942), "Honeymoon Lodge" (1943), "Moon Over Las Vegas" (1944), "Salome, Where She Danced" (1945), "Susie Steps Out" (1946), "Racking Luck" (1948), "Prejudice" (1949), "Timber Fury" (1950), "Pier 23" (1951), "The Great Adventures of Captain Kidd" (1953), "Cannibal Attack" (1954), and "Jungle Hell" (1956). On television, he appeared in numerous guest spots on such syndicated sitcoms as "Public Prosecutor," "The Magnavox Theatre," "The Cisco Kid," "Adventures of Wild Bill Hickock," "Sky King," "Chevron Theatre," "Fireside Theatre," "Beulah," "Hopalong Cassidy," "Schlitz Playhouse," "Waterfront," "The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show," "The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse," "So This is Hollywood," "The Millionaire," "Public Defender," "General Electric Theatre," "The Lone Ranger," and "Bronk". 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 Catholic church, presided on his local charters of the American Red Cross and the Boys & Girls Clubs, had been a script writer for several major studios, was a theatrical instructor for the Pasadena Playhouse, had been one of the many founding members of the Canyon Theatre Guild, was the celebrity spokesman for General Motors and Papermate, and he was married to theatrical producer Cynthia Soy from 1943 to 1962 (their union ended upon her death and produced two children; songwriter Amanda McBroom and psychologist John Jolliffe). He died while appearing in what would be his final performance in "Moving Violations" (1976).