Raised in poverty in Nevada; began working at age seven to help support family

Was an amateur boxer

Served in the US Air Corps during WWII

Stage acting debut (as Barry Mitchell) in "Winged Victory"

Feature film debut, "The Asphalt Jungle", directed by John Huston; first credit as Brad Dexter

Co-starred with Robert Ryan and Robert Stack in "House of Bamboo"

Supported Burt Lancaster and Clark Gable in "Run Silent, Run Deep"

Portrayed Yul Brynner's pal in "The Magnificent Seven"

Cast as gangster Bugsy Siegel in "The George Raft Story"

Saved Frank Sinatra from drowning in Hawaii during the filming of "None But the Brave"

Co-starred with Sinatra in "None But the Brave" and "Von Ryan's Express"

Hired to work at Frank Sinatra's production company Artanis

Produced "The Naked Runner", starring Sinatra

Served as producer of "The Lawyer"

Returned to film acting in "Jory"

Appeared as a senator in "Shampoo"

TV-movie debut "Law and Order" (NBC)

Cast as Alvin Karples in "The Secret Files of J Edgar Hoover"

Acted in "House Calls"

Appeared in "Winter Kills"; last film for more than 10 years

Produced the TV-movie "Skag", starring Karl Malden

Last film (to date) "Secret Ingredient"