Actor. He is best remembered for his portrayal of the level-headed Clem Batchman in "Sweet November" (1968). Born Burris Debenning, after attaining his degree in business from Oklahoma State University, he developed an interest in acting during his final year of college and began working in stock companies. Following a stint in the United States Army, upon returning to civilian life, he settled in New York City, New York, and with the use of the G.I. Bill he furthered his dramatic education at New York University and following graduation he began to appear as a leading man in several Broadway productions. While appearing in "The Rose Tattoo", he was discovered by a talent scout he was brought out to California for several screen and voice tests and made his entry into the film and television industry beginning with a major role in "Beach Red" (1967). From there, he would go on to appear in over 100 features; often typecast as husbands, fathers, playboys, villains, con-artists, politicians, doctors, curmudgeons, white-collared workers, educators, detectives, reporters, military men, neighbors, landlords, sheriffs, cowboys, policemen, and patriarchs. He appeared in such feature films as "City Beneath the Sea" (1971), "J.C." (1972), "St. Ives" (1976), "The Incredible Melting Man" (1977), "The House of the Dead" (1978), "Cruising" (1980), "Wolfen" (1981), "Armed Response" (1986), "The Game" (1988), "A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child" (1989), and "Love Field" (1992). On television, he flourished as a household name appearing in numerous guest spots on such syndicated sitcoms as "The Name of the Game," "Bonanza," "Daniel Boone," "Bracken's World," "Dan August," "Cade's Country," "Cannon," "The F.B.I.," "Kojak," "Columbo," "The Streets of San Francisco," "Police Story," "Medical Center," "Switch," "Barbary Coast," "Wonder Woman," "Little House on the Prairie," "Hawaii Five-O," "Barnaby Jones," "Hart to Hart," "Nero Wolfe," "The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo," "Code Red," "Magnum, P.I.," "Knots Landing," "Simon & Simon," "Father Murphy," "Highway to Heaven," "Santa Barbara," "Freddy's Nightmares," "Falcon Crest," "Matlock," and "Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child". During his career, he was an honorary member of Actors Equity, was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, was supportive of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, had been an honorary chairman for the California State Democratic Committee, was a regular parishioner of the United Methodist church, served as a chairman for his local charters of the American Red Cross and Save the Children, had been a theatrical instructor for the Pasadena Playhouse, and he was married to fellow actress Susan Silo from 1966 until his death (their union produced two children). After retiring from acting in 1995, he spent the final years of his life being a regular attendee at autograph conventions, was a generous benefactor for several libraries and schools, and focused on family and religious causes, until his death from the complications of undisclosed causes.