Born in Hartford, CT. At 11, after only five years of grammar school, he ran away from home to join a traveling carnival, then worked at an assortment of odd jobs and served in the US Navy before embarking on a show-business career as a radio announcer in 1931. In 1943 he made his Broadway stage debut, and in 1947 he created the Joe Keller role on Broadway in Arthur Miller's All My Sons, directed by Elia Kazan. That same year he made his film debut in BOOMERANG! (1947), also directed by Kazan. From then on he was kept busy in a wide range of roles, on stage and in films. After a brilliant characterization of William Jennings Bryan during 789 performances in Broadway's Inherit the Wind, he took over the opposing role of Clarence Darrow from Paul Muni in 1955, playing it with equal brilliance. Begley appeared in some 12,000 radio shows, 250 television shows, a dozen Broadway plays, and 35 motion pictures. On the screen he usually played imposing heavy types, often a corrupt businessman or politician. Among his most impressive appearances were those in PATTERNS (1956) and 12 ANGRY MEN (1957), in which he repeated earlier TV triumphs. Perhaps his finest portrayal came in SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH (1962) as Boss Finley, for which he won the 1962 Academy Award as best supporting actor. He was also comfortable in lighter fare, such as THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN (1964), in which he sang, danced, and clowned. His son (b. 1949) is actor Ed Begley Jr.  Supporting Actor 1962: SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH 1 nomination, 1 Award