Actor. He is best remembered for his portrayal of the staunch Maury Ahearn in "Appointment With Danger" (1950). Born Frederick Riss, after serving in the United States Army during World War II, he settled in California following the end of the war and after attaining his degree in theatrical arts from the UCLA per the G.I. Bill, he began his career performing in stock companies. After being discovered by director Elia Kazan during a stage performance of "Street Scene", he was so impressed by his blonde good looks, articulate voice, and professionalism, that he took notice of his potential and arranged for him to begin a career in the film industry beginning with him being under his supervision with a minor role in "Pinky" (1949). From there, he would go on to flourish as a notable character actor appearing in over 100 features; often typecast as husbands, fathers, doctors, politicians, lawyers, jurors, mayors, reporters, photographers, detectives, generals, policeman, cowboys, sheriffs, guards, blue-collared guys, retail clerks, businessmen, curmudgeons, aristocrats, landlords, neighbors, educators, eccentrics, clergymen, henchmen, and patriarchs. He appeared in such feature films as "Artic Fury" (1949), "Panic in the Streets" (1950), "Fourteen Hours" (1951), "Angels in the Outfield" (1952), "Vice Squad" (1953), "Executive Suite" (1954), "The Price of Fear" (1956), "Man on Fire" (1957), "The Power of the Resurrection" (1958), "Battle of the Coral Sea" (1959), and "Ma Barker's Killer Blood" (1960). During the advent of television, he flourished as a household name appearing in various guest spots on such syndicated sitcoms as "Front Page Detective," "Gang Busters," "Dragnet," "Four Star Playhouse," "Mayor of the Town," "The Lone Wolf," "My Friend Flicka," "The Loretta Young Show," "Crusader," "Fury," "The Lone Ranger," "You Are There," "Jane Wyman Presents the Fireside Theatre," "Telephone Time," "Cavalcade of America," "Broken Arrow," "Gunsmoke," "General Electric Theatre," "Date with the Angels," "The Restless Gun," "Bat Masterson," "The Californians," "Maverick," "Death Valley Days," "M Squad," "Cheyenne," "Perry Mason," "The Deputy," "Shannon," "Wagon Train," "Tales of Wells Fargo," "The Magical World of Disney," "Bonanza," and "The Wild Wild West". During his career, he was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, was supportive of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, had been an active member of the Hollywood Democratic Committee, was a regular parishioner of the Catholic church, had been a chairman for his local charters of the American Red Cross and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, was a theatrical instructor for the Pasadena Playhouse, and he was married to housewife Virginia Morphew from 1939 until his death (their union produced two children). In 1965, he retired from acting and spent the final years of his life devoted to family and charitable causes until his death from complications of a heart attack.