Meet the American character actor, renowned for his gruff demeanor and prolific film career spanning the 1930s and 1940s. Born in New Jersey, this individual's early life was marked by a unique profession - wagon driver for his family's laundry business. However, his true calling was the performing arts, and he soon joined a vaudeville company, eventually transitioning to stock and touring companies.
His big break came when he was cast in the Walter Huston production of 'Desire Under the Elms' on Broadway. Simultaneously, he made appearances in films shot on Long Island, a precursor to his future Hollywood career. In 1935, he made the move to Los Angeles, where he went on to appear in numerous supporting roles over the next decade and a half.
However, his career took a dramatic turn in the early 1950s, when he was blacklisted due to his political beliefs during the Communist witch-hunts. Forced to return to the stage, he continued to work in theater almost exclusively until his untimely death.
In a remarkable twist, he gained widespread recognition in 1976 for his portrayal of the libidinous grandfather on the Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman TV series. Tragically, just three years later, he was brutally beaten to death by robbers burgling his apartment, bringing an abrupt end to his remarkable life and career.
