Was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force (USAF), specializing in electronics.
Worked as an engineer for Hughes Aircraft Co. and owned a rug-cleaning business.
In 1953, married childhood sweetheart Sandra Gregg in Japan, where he was stationed by the USAF. They had two children, John, and Cynthia, and divorced in 1957.
'Zero Hour! (1957)', his acting debut, was filmed from May 8-28, 1957, with retakes on July 23-24, 1957.
Entered the United States Naval Academy in the summer of 1948, Class of 1952, and played football there.