Was a lawyer and diplomat before he became an actor.
Pondered a career in acting while attending the University of Illinois, but earned a law degree instead in 1939.
Worked with the State Department's World Trade Intelligence Division during WWI before enlisting in the U.S. Navy.
After working with the Bureau of African Affairs and Foreign Service Institute, he retired from government service and began finding work in commercials and hosted a radio program after relocating to Hollywood.