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
Traidor en el infierno (1953), a role he had originated on Broadway. He also appeared in
¡Vaya par de marinos! (1952),
Locos del aire (1952),
Los puentes de Toko-Ri (1954),
La tentación vive arriba (1955),
El hombre del brazo de oro (1955),
¡Ataque! (1956),
Li'l Abner (1959) (as Romeo
Scragg),
The George Raft Story (1961),
Chicas, chicas, chicas (1962),
Su pequeña aventura (1963),
Las joyas de la familia (1965),
Harlow (1965),
Frankie y Johnny (1966), and
Fuerte 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.
