American character actor who specialized in none-too-bright pals of the lead, though his range included villains and ethnic types. A native of New York City, he began acting at 15. He studied at the Neighborhood Playhouse and played on Broadway with the Theatre Guild, and with the Provincetown Players. He came to Hollywood in the late Thirties and quickly became a fixture in films of all genres, primarily at Warner Bros. He was a frequent foil for 'James Cagney' . He retired in 1972. He died of cancer a decade later.
The hearse containing his body was stolen on the way to the mortuary. Involved in a fender bender, the vehicle was stolen by carjackers while information was being exchanged by the occupants of the vehicles. The car and the body were found shortly after.
He was a lifelong bachelor but for 40 years had an off-and-on relationship with actress Milicent Patrick until his death in 1980.
He was Abner Kravitz on "Bewitched" where Darrin Stephens was played by Dick York and Dick Sargent. He also starred opposite Gary Cooper in Sergeant York .
He appeared in both Ninotchka and Silk Stockings , its musical remake.
