Professional acting debut in "Liliom" for the Actors Lab in Hollywood

Film debut in "A Song to Remember"

New York stage debut in "The Old Lady Says No!"

Played Happy in Broadway production of "Death of a Salesman"

Made TV series debut as "Crime Photographer" (CBS)

Had breakthrough feature film roles in "Summertime" and "The Man With the Golden Arm"

First directed for the New York stage, "Respect for Joey"

Starred as "Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer" (syndicated)

Starred in TV series "Riverboat" (NBC)

First directed for TV with episodes of "Bucksin"

TV-movie debut, "The Outsider" (NBC)

Starred in TV series spin-off of "The Outsider" (NBC)

First played Kolchak in the ABC TV-moive pilot "The Night Stalker"

Directed and produced feature film "Happy Mother's Day, Love George"

Starred as "Kolchak, the Night Stalker" (ABC)

Tried sitcoms with "Small & Frye" (CBS)

Played the father in "A Christmas Story"

Returned to the New York stage after 20 year absence in "California Dog Fight"

Made first of several appearances as father of "Murphy Brown" (CBS)

Hosted first of several "Unclaimed Fortunes" specials (ABC)

Did voice work for animated "Gargoyles" syndicated series

Hosted first of several "Mysteries of the Ancient World" specials (CBS)

Played father to Adam Sandler in "Billy Madison"

Made guest appearance on "The X-Files" (Fox)