Raised in the Bronx, New York

Worked as a peanut vendor in New York's Yankee Stadium and Polo Grounds

Started as a stand-up comic in his early twenties

Made Broadway debut in "Of V We Sing" opposite Betty Garrett

Served in the US Army Special Services during World War II; became sergeant

Was a regular on "Front Row Center", a musical revue program presented on TV's DuMont network featuring guests from Broadway theater productions

Performed as a stand-up comedian, appearing with acts including Harry Belafonte, Barbra Streisand and Mike Nichols and Elaine May

Starred on Broadway in "Romanoff and Juliet" with Peter Ustinov

Guested on "The Dick Van Dyke Show" (CBS)

Starred on Broadway with Robert Preston in "Nobody Loves an Albatross"

Appeared in the popular supernatural film "Rosemary's Baby"

Acted with Jose Ferrer in a San Francisco production of Neil Simon's "The Sunshine Boys" and played Launce in The New York Shakespeare Festival's touring production of Joseph Papp's "Two Gentleman of Verona"

Throughout the 1970s to 1990s, appeared as a guest star in dozens of television shows

Appeared as Chief Monk in the Mel Brooks comedy "History of the World Part I"

Played Atlantic City showbiz type Sammy Pinkers in the 1960s portion of "Beaches", starring Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey

Appeared in the post-war romantic comedy/drama "Enemies, A Love Story"

Played an emergency room ghost in the hit film "Ghost"

Had recurring role on the short-lived NBC comedy "Singer and Sons"

Played small roles in the film comedies "Soapdish", "He Said, She Said", "Frankie and Johnny" and "All I Want for Christmas"

Was a regular on the short-lived series "Double Rush", playing an elderly messenger

Played recurring role as a judge on "Ally McBeal"

Racked up appearances in the season finale episodes of four different series in the same night