Born John H. Lebzelter in Newark, NJ. Moved to Louisville, KY as a youth to live with his grandparents; graduated from Du Pont Manuel High School in Louisville. Served in the 101st Airborne during WW II. Gruff, craggy-faced character actor who abandoned a career as a prizefighter for the stage. Warden appeared in several Broadway productions [including a revival of Golden Boy (1952) and the original one-act version of A View from the Bridge (1955)] and made his screen debut in 1951, often playing hard-boiled military types; he made his mark in THE BACHELOR PARTY (1957) and, as the impatient juror in 12 ANGRY MEN (1957). Warden developed a talent for vulgarly comedic roles, contributing memorable turns as the football coach in HEAVEN CAN WAIT (1978) and as a garment district hustler in SO FINE (1981). Other notable credits in his 100+ films and TV movies/series include FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (1953), DONOVAN'S REEF (1963), THE THIN RED LINE (1964), "Brian's Song" (1971, TV as Coach George Halas), THE APPRENTICESHIP OF DUDDY KRAVITZ (1974), ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN (1976), DEATH ON THE NILE (1978), ...AND JUSTICE FOR ALL (1979 as Judge Rayford), THE CHAMP (1979), BEING THERE (1979 as President "Bobby"), USED CARS (1980 as the Fuchs Twins), THE VERDICT (1982 as Mickey Morrissey), THE PRESIDIO (1988), TOYS (1992), BULLETS OVER BROADWAY (1994), WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING, THINGS TO DO IN DENVER WHEN YOU'RE DEAD and MIGHTY APHRODITE (all 1995), ED (1996), BULWORTH and DIRTY WORK (both 1998) and THE REPLACEMENTS (2000).  Nominated for Supporting Actor 1975: SHAMPOO  Nominated for Supporting Actor 1978: HEAVEN CAN WAIT 2 nominations