Earned a degree in business before entering the United States Air Force.
Interviewed about his Western The Undefeated (1969) with John Wayne in the book "Wild Wild Westerners" by Tom Weaver (BearManor, 2012).
Originally set out to become a civil engineer but in 1958 decided to try acting and moved to Los Angeles. Within a month he found a role on the TV western episode of "Have Gun - Will Travel" (1957).
Was a part of a group of actors that John Wayne regularly used in his movies.