Craggy-faced veteran of the Broadway stage who made his screen debut in A HATFUL OF RAIN (1957) and carved a niche as a character player; memorable as a mafia Don in John Huston's PRIZZI'S HONOR (1985). Began career as a child actor on the variety stage. Made Broadway debut as walk-in in Bernard Shaw's Saint Joan (1951 production, starring Uta Hagen). Performed often during the golden age of television, including appearances on Studio One and Philco Playhouse. His most important contribution to the arts, however, remains his teaching career at the HB Studio in Greenwich Village, founded by Uta Hagen and Herbert Berghof. George Segal, Sandy Dennis, and Barbra Streisand all studied under him. He died in New York City of emphysema and bronchitis at the age of 68. Other notabale credits include THE PRODUCERS and THE BOSTON STRANGLER (both 1968), LITTLE BIG MAN (1970), HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WANDA JUNE (1971), WISE BLOOD (1979), A STRANGER IS WATCHING (1982), REMO WILLIAMS: THE ADVENTURE BEGINS (1985), DA (1988), SEA OF LOVE (1989), NATIONAL LAMPOON'S CHRISTMAS VACATION, SONS and PUPPET MASTER (all 1989), MY BLUE HEAVEN (1990), THE JERKY BOYS and FORGET PARIS (both 1995), MOUSE HUNT, KNOCKING ON DEATH'S DOOR and BETTER THAN EVER (all 1997).  Nominated for Supporting Actor 1985: PRIZZI'S HONOR 1 nomination