Actor. He is best remembered for his portrayal of the level-headed Clark Griswold, Sr. in the holiday classic "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" (1989). Born Emanuel Cohen, after attending the Group Theatre in Nichols, Connecticut, he made his stage debut as a leading man in "Coriolanus" (1938). With the outbreak of World War II, he served in the United States Air Force, he returned to the theatre and starred in such productions as "Medicine Show," "No More Peace," "Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines," "Hold on to Your Hats," "Command Decision," "Come Back, Little Sheba," "The Golden State," "Paint Your Wagon," "Seagulls Over Sorrento," "Room Service," "The Grey-Eyed People," "Madam, Will You Walk," "House of Flowers," "Guys and Dolls," "Time Time of Your Life," "Triple Play," "The Sound of Music," "Conversation at Midnight," "Prelude to a Kiss," and "Our Town". After attending a social function at the prestigious Sardis Restaurant, he was introduced to director Jules Dassin. Impressed by his articulate voice, professionalism, and good humor, he took notice of his potential and arranged for him to begin a newfound career in the film industry beginning with him being under his supervision in a supporting role in "The Naked City" (1948). From there, he would go on to enjoy a successful career as a versatile character actor appearing in over 180 features, often typecast as either a husband, father, doctor, lawyer, clergymen, juror, landlord, neighbor, retail clerk, blue-collared worker, educator, cowboy, sheriff, policeman, mailman, salesman, military man, manager, waiter, curmudgeon, wealthy bachelor, eccentric, historical figure, detective, reporter, photographer, servant, politician, or patriarch. He appeared in such feature films as "Hamlet" (1964), "Seconds" (1966), "Sweet Love, Bitter" (1967), "Pretty Poison" (1968), "Smith!" (1969), "Little Murders" (1971), "Escape from the Planet of the Apes" (1971), "Conquest of the Planet of the Apes" (1972), "Serpico" (1973), "Earthquake" (1974), "King Kong" (1976), "Heaven Can Wait" (1978), "Lovely But Deadly" (1981), "Frances" (1982), "Prizzi's Honor" (1985), "The Wizard of Loneliness" (1988), "Sibling Rivalry" (1990), "Iron Maze" (1991), "The Hotel Manor Inn" (1996), "Here Dies Another Day" (1997), "You've Got Mail" (1998), "The Dogwalker" (1999), "Sunset Strip" (2000), and "Numb" (2003). During the advent of television, he became a familiar face appearing in such syndicated sitcoms as "Treasury Men in Action," "Kraft Theatre," "Danger," "The Web," "For the People," "The Patty Duke Show," "Mission: Impossible," "Hawaii Five-O," "Bracken's World," "The Interns," "Night Gallery," "Bonanza," "All in the Family," "Mannix," "Police Story," "McMillian & Wife," "Wonder Woman," "Insight," "Medical Center," "Executive Suite," "The Bob Newhart Show," "Lucan," "Blind Ambition," "Nero Wolfe," "Bret Maverick," "Family Ties," "Dynasty," "The Facts of Life," "Who's The Boss?," "Matlock," "Annie McGuire," "Roseanne," "Married...with Children," "Seinfeld," "ER," "The Great Defender," and "Touched by an Angel". During his career, he was an honorary member of Actors Equity, was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, was supportive of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, had been an active parishioner of the Temple Israel of Hollywood, was supportive of the California State Democratic Committee, had been a theatrical instructor for the Pasadena Playhouse, was a chairman for the National Council of American-Soviet Friendship, was awarded the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play as well as the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play (both attained in 1987), and he was married to fellow actress Sarah Cunningham from 1942 until her death in 1986 (their union produced two children). In 2003, he retired from acting and spent the final year of his life focused on religious and charitable causes until his death from the complications of advanced age.