Attended Lake Forest Academy (1937-1940) and the School of Speech of Northwestern University (1941. After graduating from Northwestern in June 1950, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech, he went to Hollywood to work for M.G.M..
During World War II, he served in the film section of the U.S. Signals Corps.
Latterly taught courses in film aesthetics and history at the University of California at Los Angeles and at Santa Monica College.