A one-time champion roller skater, he performed many of his own stunts in the film Rollerball (1975). He was also a proficient boxer and won several amateur titles in his life, most notably the heavyweight 'Golden Gloves' of Chicago.
Beck's dream TV role on "Dallas" (1978) proved to be just that -- a dream. He played Pamela Ewing's husband on the popular western soap during the series' notorious 1985-86 season, which was explained away at the beginning of the next season as entirely a figment of Pam's imagination.
Born in Chicago and grew up in Evanston and Joliet, Illinois. He lived on his father's farm/ranch and while young was interested in becoming a vet.
His big breakthrough was in the movie The Other Side of Midnight (1977) in which he played the male lead. The film was a huge box office flop, largely due to 20th Century Fox's decision to throw full weight behind the first Star Wars film.
His tutors encouraged him to try acting as a means to overcome his profound shyness. He was encouraged after performing in a high school play at age 16. Moving to California in 1962 at age 19, he initially made his living by appearing in TV commercials.
In the 1990s, he started voice acting for the first time in his career when he provided the voice of "The Punisher" in three episodes of "Spider-Man" (1994) (aka "Spider-Man: The Animated Series").
Made his first TV appearance as an actor in the "I Dream of Jeannie" (1965) episode, "I Dream of Jeannie: Russian Roulette (#1.13)" (1965).
Met wife 'Tina Carver (I)', a former British model, in Mexico when they were both working on the movie, Lawman (1971). They married in 1971 and have four children -- one son named Tara James Beck and three daughters named Tatiana Beck, Talia Beck and Natasha Beck.