Attended Austin High School in Chicago.
Appeared on stage in "John Loves Mary" at the Kenneth Sawyer Goodman Memorial Theatre in Chicago in 1953 (as Lt. Victor OLeary). Appeared on stage in "Lysistrata" at the Studebaker Theater in Chicago in 1957 (as Envoy from Sparta).
In July of 1959 A brush fire destroyed his Laurel Canyon home along with 27 other homes including those owned by actor Lester Ferguson, composer Alan Bergman, and a mansion once owned by Houdini.
After playing summer stock in Chicago, he turned down offers to play with the Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Cubs and instead signed a contract with Paramount Pictures.