AllMovie

He debuted onstage in stock in 1921, and reached Broadway three years later. He entered films in 1929, going on to a busy screen career through the '30s; his screen work after 1940 was infrequent. He often played fast-talking, scoop-chasing reporters and other dynamic types. After 17 years with no film appearances, he came back to the screen in Gore Vidal's The Best Man (1964), reprising his stage role as a Harry Truman-like politico; for his work he received a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination. He did much work on TV, including the lead role in the series Martin Kaye, Private Eye.