Actor. He is best remembered for his portrayal of the headstrong Dr. Cross in "North by Northwest" (1959). Born into a family of wealth and position, after attaining his degree in theatrical arts from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, New York, he began his career as leading man on the Broadway stage appearing in such productions as "Our Town," "The Merchant of Yonkers," "Family Portrait," "Margin for Errors," "In Time to Come," "Sing Out, Sweet Land," "Barefoot Boy with Cheek," "Darkness at Noon," and "Hamlet." Upon meeting director Elia Kazan while attending a dinner party at the prestigious Sardis Restaurant, he was so impressed by his lean physique, mature appearance, 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 under his supervision per a supporting role in "Boomerang" (1947). From there, he would go on to enjoy a fruitful career as a notable character actor appearing in over 70 features; often typecast as husbands, fathers, eccentrics, curmudgeons, neighbors, landlords, retail clerks, businessmen, managers, educators, aristocrats, chauffeurs, doormen, bellhops, waiters, faithful friends, sidekicks, cowboys, sheriffs, bailiffs, deputies, guards, detectives, reporters, photographers, villains, white-collared workers, politicians, lawyers, judges, clergymen, mayors, authority figures, military men, and patriarchs. He appeared in such feature films as "The Sharkfighters" (1956), "Slander" (1957), "I Want to Live!" (1958), "The Tingler" (1959), "Inherit the Wind" (1960), "Bon Voyage!" (1962), "The Greatest Story Ever Told" (1965), and "The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming" (1966). On television, he became an even more familiar face appearing in various guest spots on such syndicated sitcoms as "The Ford Television Theatre," "Suspense," "Pulitzer Prize Playhouse," "Kraft Theatre," "Producers Showcase," "You Are There," "Front Row Center," "The Alcoa Hour," "Armstrong Circle Theatre," "Camera Three," "Climax!," "Lux Video Theatre," "The United States Steel Hour," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "Tales of Wells Fargo," "Johnny Midnight," "Playhouse 90," "The Twilight Zone," "Route 66," "Have Gun - Will Travel," "General Electric Theatre," "The Farmer's Daughter," "Gunsmoke," "Bewitched," "The Magical World of Disney," "The Tammy Grimes Show," and "ABC Stage 67." During his career, he was an honorary member of Actors Equity, was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, had been supportive of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, was a regular parishioner of the Catholic church, was a member of the Hollywood Democratic Committee, presided as a chairman for his local charters of the American Red Cross and the Boys & Girls Clubs, had been a theatrical instructor for the Pasadena Playhouse, was a commercial model for the Forbes Agency, and was the celebrity spokesman for Hormel Foods. After completing would be his appearance in "Never a Dull Moment" (1968), he died and the film was released posthumously. He never married nor fathered any children.