Actor. He is best remembered for his portrayal of the dashing Terry O'Flynn in "Colleen" (1927). After attaining his degree in theatrical arts from the University of Madison, he began his career appearing in stock companies and was discovered by film director Randall Faye while starring in a stage production of "Romeo and Juliet" in Los Angeles, California. Impressed by his dark good looks, stealth physique, and youthful charm, he arranged for him to be a career in the film industry, starting with him being under his supervision in "Rich But Honest" (1927). For the next 37 years, he went on to enjoy a successful career as a character actor appearing in over 230 features, often typecast as husbands, fathers, playboys, doctors, lawyers, politicians, blue-collared guys, bartenders, waiters, butlers, chauffeurs, aristocrats, historical figures, love interests, clergymen, retail clerks, neighbors, reporters, detectives, photographers, bankers, policemen, mailmen, mechanics, cowboys, sheriffs, soldiers, gamblers, educators and, in his later years, patriarchs. He starred in such motion pictures as "Four Sons" (1927), "Dressed to Kill" (1928), "Christina" (1929), "Cameo Kirby" (1930), "The Last Ride" (1931), "Blonde Venus" (1932), "The Invisible Man" (1933), "Hollywood Boulevard" (1936), "Mr. Moto's Gamble" (1938), "Alice in Movieland" (1939), "Captain Caution" (1940), "Shooting High" (1941), "Yankee Doodle Dandy" (1942), "Crazy House" (1943), "Firebrands of Arizona" (1944), "Along Came Jones" (1945), "Canyon Passage" (1946), "Wyoming" (1947), "South of St. Louis" (1948), "Masked Raiders" (1949), "Montana" (1950), "Double Crossbones" (1951), "Son of Paleface" (1952), "All Ashore" (1953), "A Star is Born" (1954), "The Scarlet Coat" (1955), "Friendly Persuasion" (1956), "Band of Angels" (1957), "The Last Hurrah" (1958), "The Hanging Tree" (1959), "Ice Palace" (1960), "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" (1962), "Bye Bye Birdie" (1963), "Cheyenne Autumn" (1964), and "Do Not Disturb" (1965). During the advent of television, he became a familiar face appearing in various guest spots on such syndicated sitcoms as "Four Star Playhouse," "Screen Directors Playhouse," "The Californians," "Sugarfoot," "Mike Hammer," "Playhouse 90," "Laramie," "Wanted: Dead or Alive," "Bourbon Street Beat," "Tombstone Territory," "Riverboat," "The Donna Reed Show," "Startime," "The Deputy," "Peter Gunn," "Overland Trail," "Death Valley Days," "Bat Masterson," "Surfside 6," "Tate," "Stagecoach West," "The Tall Man," "Zane Grey Theatre," "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp," "Thriller," "The Barbara Stanwyck Show," "Have Gun - Will Travel," "Bronco," "Maverick," "Bonanza," "Dr. Kildare," "Sam Benedict," "The Untouchables," "Temple Houston," "Wagon Train," "Gunsmoke," "The Virginian," and "F Troop." During his career, he was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, was supportive of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, was a regular parishioner of the Catholic church, had been an active member of the Hollywood Democratic Committee, was a chairman for his local charters of the American Red Cross and the Boys & Girl Scouts of America, was a theatrical instructor for the Pasadena Playhouse, was a professional stuntman for such prominent leading men as Errol Flynn and John Wayne, was the celebrity spokesmen for Chesterfield Cigarettes, and he was married to actress Lya Lys from 1931 to 1932 (their union ended in divorce and produced one daughter). In 1964, he retired from acting and spent the final years of his life devoted to charitable and religious causes until his death from complications of heart disease.