An influential figure in the Beat Generation, he was more renowned as a poet than a film actor. Born in New York City in 1930, he had a tumultuous childhood, spending time in foster care and juvenile detention. His poetic talent emerged during a prison sentence, leading to friendships with Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac. Though his acting roles were few, his literary contributions, including works like "Gasoline" and "The Happy Birthday of Death," left a lasting impact on American literature.