A seemingly ubiquitous presence in films of the 1950s, this beefy character actor drifted from one menial job to another before turning to dramatics. He worked on the stage for several years before breaking into movies in 1952. Typically played gruff characters -- sometimes comic, sometimes menacing -- and essayed quite a few gangster roles as well. He won an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Animal in Stalag 17 (1953), a role he had originated on Broadway. He also appeared in Sailor Beware (1952), Jumping Jacks (1952), The Bridges at Toko-Ri (1954), The Seven Year Itch (1955), The Man with the Golden Arm (1955), Attack (1956), Li'l Abner (1959) (as Romeo Scragg), The George Raft Story (1961), Girls! Girls! Girls! (1962), The Thrill of It All (1963), The Family Jewels (1965), Harlow (1965/II), Frankie and Johnny (1966), and Fort Utah (1967), to name a few, in addition to many TV shows in the 1960s and 1970s. He was incapacitated during the final years of his life, from a paralytic stroke.
Three children from his first marriage. Deborah who on an exchange student program in High school changed her name to Deja, Deena and David! The three Ds as they were referred to due to the short-lived hype of Three-D movies. Deja is married with two daughters and three sons and she and her husband live in Maryland. Deena and her daughter and husband reside in Arizona and his son David lives in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Three children were named Deena, David, and Deja.