American character actor, renowned for his captivating portrayals of villainous characters, predominantly in television.
Born in New York City, Merlin's educational background included attending P.S. 15, Mangin Junior High School, Grace Church Choir School for Boys, and Stuyvesant High School.
During World War II, he served as a torpedoman in the United States Navy, operating in both the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets.
Upon his return to civilian life, Merlin pursued a career in the performing arts, enrolling in the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre, and subsequently becoming active in summer stock theatres and on Broadway.
This led to his relocation to Hollywood in 1954, where he made his film debut in "Six Bridges to Cross" (1955). Although Merlin had previously appeared in earlier television programs in New York, including a regular role on the children's program "Tom Corbett, Space Cadet" (1950).
Throughout his career, Merlin made numerous film appearances, primarily playing heavy roles. However, his most frequent work was in television, where he excelled in playing the near-psychotic bad guy to perfection in scores of shows, particularly Westerns.
In 1958, he took on a rare leading role, starring alongside two other actors in the Western series "The Rough Riders" (1958),which revolved around three tough Civil War veterans.
Merlin continued to act in occasional roles following his most prolific period in the 1950s and 1960s. Additionally, in his later years, he supplemented his acting career by working as an official in the security department at a Los Angeles area airport.
