Actor. Born in Lima, Ohio, he spent his early years as an elementary school teacher before pursuing a career in acting. He is best remembered for his portrayals as Major Harvey Stovall in the 1949 motion picture "Twelve O'Clock High", which earned him an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, and as Major General Thomas F. Waverly in the 1954 classic "White Christmas." He received his formal education at Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana before studying acting at the Lyceum Art Conservatory in Chicago, Illinois. He made his film debut in 1929 in the motion picture "The Woman from Hell" followed by "Handcuffed" later in the year. He spent much of the 1930s and '40s on Broadway, appearing in the theater productions of "Tobacco Road" (1933 to 1941), "They Shall not Die" (1934), "Missouri Legend" (1938), "Brown Danube" (1939), "Everywhere I Roam" (1939), "Farm of Three Echoes" (1939 to 1940), "The Unconquered" (1940) and "Doctor Social" in 1948. In 1950 he was presented by the Motion Picture Academy with an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the World War II drama "Twelve O'Clock High" starring Gregory Peck. His notable motion credits include: "Wanderer of the Wasteland" (1935), "Revolt of the Zombies" (1936), "Brigham Young" (1940), "Western Union" (1941), "The North Star" (1943), "Sister Kenny" (1946), "Rawhide" (1951), "My Son John" (1952), "The Robe" (1953), "Bad Day at Black Rock" (1955), "Bombers B-52" (1957), "King Creole" (1958), "Smoke Jumpers" (1958), "The Nun's Story" (1959), "Elmer Gantry" (1960), "Firecreek" (1968), "The Kremlin Letter" (1970) and Evil Town (1987). His notable television appearances Include "Schlitz Playhouse of Stars," "Studio 57," "The Twilight Zone," "General Electric Theater," "Dr. Kildare," "The F.B.I.," "The Fugitive," "Bonanza," "The Partridge Family," "Alias Smith and Jones," "Medical Center," "Harry O" and "Hunter." He was a two-time Emmy Award winner for his portrayal as Principal Albert Vane in the 1963 television series "Mr. Novak", and was a recipient of a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. He died from heart disease in Santa Monica, California at the age of 87.
Actor. Born in Lima, Ohio, he spent his early years as an elementary school teacher before pursuing a career in acting. He is best remembered for his portrayals as Major Harvey Stovall in the 1949 motion picture "Twelve O'Clock High", which earned him an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, and as Major General Thomas F. Waverly in the 1954 classic "White Christmas." He received his formal education at Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana before studying acting at the Lyceum Art Conservatory in Chicago, Illinois. He made his film debut in 1929 in the motion picture "The Woman from Hell" followed by "Handcuffed" later in the year. He spent much of the 1930s and '40s on Broadway, appearing in the theater productions of "Tobacco Road" (1933 to 1941), "They Shall not Die" (1934), "Missouri Legend" (1938), "Brown Danube" (1939), "Everywhere I Roam" (1939), "Farm of Three Echoes" (1939 to 1940), "The Unconquered" (1940) and "Doctor Social" in 1948. In 1950 he was presented by the Motion Picture Academy with an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the World War II drama "Twelve O'Clock High" starring Gregory Peck. His notable motion credits include: "Wanderer of the Wasteland" (1935), "Revolt of the Zombies" (1936), "Brigham Young" (1940), "Western Union" (1941), "The North Star" (1943), "Sister Kenny" (1946), "Rawhide" (1951), "My Son John" (1952), "The Robe" (1953), "Bad Day at Black Rock" (1955), "Bombers B-52" (1957), "King Creole" (1958), "Smoke Jumpers" (1958), "The Nun's Story" (1959), "Elmer Gantry" (1960), "Firecreek" (1968), "The Kremlin Letter" (1970) and Evil Town (1987). His notable television appearances Include "Schlitz Playhouse of Stars," "Studio 57," "The Twilight Zone," "General Electric Theater," "Dr. Kildare," "The F.B.I.," "The Fugitive," "Bonanza," "The Partridge Family," "Alias Smith and Jones," "Medical Center," "Harry O" and "Hunter." He was a two-time Emmy Award winner for his portrayal as Principal Albert Vane in the 1963 television series "Mr. Novak", and was a recipient of a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. He died from heart disease in Santa Monica, California at the age of 87.
Bio by: Nils M. Solsvik Jr.
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