Actor. He is best remembered for his recurring portrayal of the headstrong Colonel Crook in the television series "Hondo." Born William Klein, after serving in the United States Army during World War II, he was discovered by director Henry King while working as a men's department clerk for The Bon-Ton. Impressed by his dark good looks, manly physique, and humble charm, he arranged for him to begin a newfound career in the film industry beginning with him being under his supervision per a minor role in "Twelve O'Clock High" (1949). From there, he would go on to flourish as a character actor appearing in over 230 features in a 51 year career; often typecast as husbands, fathers, doctors, lawyers, politicians, educators, aristocrats, sheriffs, cowboys, policemen, adventurers, playboys, soldiers, blue-collared guys, businessmen, best friends, neighbors, clergymen, bankers, postmen, corporals, reporters, detectives, aviators, astronauts, sidekicks, shopkeepers, historical figures, and, in his later years, patriarchs. He appeared in such films as "When Willie Comes Marching Home" (1950), "My Blue Heaven" (1950), "People Will Talk" (1951), "Purple Heart Diary" (1951), "Sky Commando" (1953),"Off Limits" (1953), "Battle of Rogue River" (1954), "A Bullet for Joey" (1955), "It Came from Beneath the Sea" (1955), "Bobby Ware is Missing" (1955), "Three Bad Sisters" (1956), "Jet Pilot" (1957), "The Missouri Traveler" (1958), "Badman's Country" (1958), "Operation Petticoat" (1959), "A Fever in the Blood" (1961), "Experiment in Terror" (1962), "The Pink Panther" (1963), "Good Neighbor Sam" (1964), "How to Murder Your Wife" (1965), "Ride Beyond Vengeance" (1966), "What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?" (1966), "Hotel" (1967), "The Karate Killers" (1967), "Smith!" (1969), "Heaven With a Gun" (1969), "The Animals" (1970), "Chisum" (1970), "Wild Rovers" (1971), and "Conquest of the Planet of the Apes" (1972). During the advent of television, he flourished as a household name appearing in various guest spots on such syndicated sitcoms as "Schlitz Playhouse," "The Ray Milland Show," "Stage 7," "The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show," "Waterfront," "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin," "Frontier," "Conflict," "Playhouse 90," "M Squad," "Casey Jones," "Tales of the Texas Rangers," "Harbor Command," "How to Marry a Millionaire," "Union Pacific," "Target," "Behind Closed Doors," "Maverick," "Frontier Doctor," "Steve Canyon," "Sugarfoot," "Hotel de Paree," "Mackenzie's Raiders," "Adventure Showcase," "Zane Grey Theatre," "Outlaws," "The Blue Angels," "Lock Up," "Peter Gunn," "Tallahassee 7000," "The Rebel," "Have Gun - Will Travel," "Miami Undercover," "The Untouchables," "Ben Casey," "Johnny Dollar," "The Rifleman," "General Hospital," "Laramie," "Arrest and Trial," "The Bill Dana Show," "Wagon Train," "Temple Houston," "My Three Sons," "The Virginian," "Branded," "Rawhide," "Combat!," "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.," "Judd for the Defense," "The Guns of Will Sonnett," "Garrison's Gorillas," "Death Valley Days," "It Takes a Thief," "Lancer," "Mission: Impossible," "The Name of the Game," "Alias Smith and Jones," "The Sixth Sense," "Mannix," "Bonanza," "Banacek," "The Rookies," "Chase," "McCloud," "The F.B.I.," "McMillian & Wife," "Toma," "Ironside," "Columbo," "ABC Afterschool Specials," "Gunsmoke," "Cannon," "Barnaby Coast," "Shazam!," "The Waltons," "Barnaby Jones," "The Oregon Trail," "The Bionic Woman," "Emergency!," "Hawaii Five-O," "Switch," "The Jeffersons," "Charlie's Angels," "Lou Grant," "Quincy, M.E.," "The Fall Guy," "Dallas," "Hardcastle and McCormick," "Matt Houston," "Falcon Crest," "Cagney & Lacey," "Scarecrow and Mrs. King," "Magnum, P.I.," "Airwolf," "Our House," "Simon & Simon," "Murder, She Wrote," "Batman: The Animated Series," and "High Mountain Rangers." During his career, he was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, was supportive of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, was supportive of the California State Democratic Committee, was a regular parishioner of the Temple Israel of Hollywood, was a theatrical and voice coach for the Pasadena Playhouse, presided as a chairman for his local charters of Habitat for Humanity and the American Red Cross, was a regular attendee at autograph conventions, and he was married to psychologist Patricia Bryant from 1958 until his death (their union produced three children). After appearing in his last major appearance in "Metal" (2001), he died from complications of cancer.