Actor. He is best remembered for his portrayal of the stern District Attorney Carl Kramer in the dramatic film "The Unholy Wife" (1957). Born Taliaferro Ware Avery, while serving as a private in the United States Army during World War II, he became a second lieutenant within the Armed Radio Forces. Upon returning to civilian life following the end of the war, he settled in California and began his career as a radio actor whose voice was featured in such programs as "Meet Corliss Archer," "Suspense," "Inner Sanctum," "Our Miss Brooks," "December Bride," "Hallmark Playhouse," and "Johnny Fletcher". After being discovered by director Herbert I. Leeds during a dinner party at the prestigious Ciro's Nightclub, he was impressed by his cultured voice and sturdy girth, that he arranged for him to begin a newfound career in the film industry beginning with him being under his supervision in "Bunco Squad" (1950). From there, he would go on to enjoy a fruitful career as a notable character actor appearing in 140 features; although primarily cast as sophisticated and articulate villains, he also was synonymous with portraying husbands, fathers, doctors, lawyers, politicians, educators, aristocrats, businessmen, retail clerks, blue-collared workers, military men, educators, kindly neighbors, judges, attorneys, reporters, detectives, and public servants. He appeared in such feature films as "Where Danger Lives" (1950), "Gambling House" (1950), "Scarlet Angel" (1952), "She Couldn't Say No" (1953), "Naked Alibi" (1954), "It Came from Beneath the Sea" (1955), "I'll Cry Tomorrow" (1955), "Back from Eternity" (1956), "Buchanan Rides Alone" (1958), "North by Northwest" (1959), "This Rebel Breed" (1960), "Man-Trap" (1961), "Twist Around the Clock" (1961), "Period of Adjustment" (1962), "A Ticklish Affair" (1963), "The Satan Bug" (1965), "Follow Me, Boys!" (1966), "Hotel" (1967), "A Dream of Kings" (1969), "WUSA" (1970), and "Maurie" (1973). During the advent of television, he became a familiar face appearing in numerous guest spots on such syndicated sitcoms as "Stars Over Hollywood," "The Adventures of Kit Carson," "Chevron Theatre," "The Pride of the Family," "Soldiers of Fortune," "The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show," "Big Town," "The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse," "Public Defender," "Passport to Danger," "Jane Wyman Presents the Fireside Theatre," "Star Stage," "Dragnet," "Studio 57," "The Gray Ghost," "M Squad," "Lawman," "State Trooper," "The David Niven Show," "Cheyenne," "Shotgun Slade," "The Ann Sothern Show," "Johnny Midnight," "Bourbon Street Beat," "Surfside 6," "Alcoa Theatre," "Tales of Wells Fargo," "Mister Ed," "Maverick," "Bronco," "Peter and Gladys," "Ben Casey," "Perry Mason," "Temple Houston," "Channing," "77 Sunset Strip," "Profiles in Courage," "Slattery's People," "Laredo," "My Three Sons," "F Troop," "Get Smart," "Batman," "The Lucy Show," "Rango," "Lassie," "He & She," "The Andy Griffith Show," "Gomer Pyle: USMC," "Fantastic Four," "Lost in Space," "The Virginian," "That Girl," "Bonanza," "Death Valley Days," "The F.B.I.," "O'Hara, U.S. Treasury," "Mannix," "The Young Lawyers," "Room 222," "Love, American Style," "Mission: Impossible," "Adam-12," "The Sandy Duncan Show," and "The Rookies". During his career, he was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, was supportive of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, presided on the council for Professional Hypnotists Association, was a licensed real estate agent, supported the California State Democratic Committee, was a regular parishioner of the Catholic church, was a vocal instructor for the Pasadena Playhouse, served on the council for his local charters of the American Red Cross and the Boys & Girl Scouts of America, and he was married to fellow stage actress Yvonne Johnston from 1947 to 1968 (their union ended in divorce and produced two children. After starring in what would be his final appearance in "Willie Dynamite" (1974), Avery died unexpectedly from complications of a heart attack only one day prior to what would have been his 58th birthday.