Born in Ireland, he was raised in the US from early childhood. When still in his teens he joined General John Pershing's Mexican border expedition against Pancho Villa as a bugler, then again lied about his age to become a pilot with the famous Lafayette Escadrille in WW I. Husky and barrel-chested, he became a model for shirts back in civilian life and made his acting debut in 1924 with a walk-on in a Broadway play and a small part in a New York-made film. Larger stage and screen parts soon followed. He made his niche in Hollywood in tough villain roles, memorably as the sadistic sergeant in BEAU GESTE (1939). But he also played many arrogant, two-fisted heroes, and even assayed comedy roles, in a screen career that spanned four decades. His second wife was actress Marjorie Lane.  Nominated for Supporting Actor 1939: BEAU GESTE 1 nomination