Born in Brooklyn, New York, he was raised in Harlem and pursued acting at a young age. He honed his craft at the Actors Studio and began his career on stage before transitioning to film and television. Known for his distinctive features and intense presence, he often portrayed villains and tough characters, becoming a staple in crime and action genres. Over a career spanning several decades, he appeared in films like "Ocean's 11," "The Manchurian Candidate," and "Johnny Cool," earning a reputation as a versatile and memorable character actor.