An American actor, born on May 25, 1917, in Eureka, California, USA. He grew up in Laramie, Wyoming. While he appeared in high school plays, he spent more time practicing athletics. He studied at the University of Wyoming and also played basketball there. He left college in 1937 and decided to go to Hollywood to become a star. In the early 1940s in California, he was given the opportunity to participate in the Shakespeare Festival in Carmel. His notable work includes The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), The Kid from Brooklyn (1946), and White Heat (1949).