Following some stage experience and a 1930 Broadway debut, he went to Hollywood, where he became a nice-guy type of leading man of many B pictures of the 30s and early 40s. When given the opportunity, he proved himself a capable actor, as he did in the role of Jimmy Nolan in A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN (1945), for which he won the Academy Award for best supporting actor. But his hopes for a more substantial screen career failed to materialize. By 1950 he was out of films and returned to the screen only occasionally in the 60s. One of his three wives was actress Frances Gifford.  Supporting Actor 1945: A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN 1 nomination, 1 Award