Born on February 11, 1926, in Regina, Saskatchewan, he grew up in a Royal Canadian Mounted Police family. He served in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II before studying acting at the Academy of Radio Arts in Toronto and the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York. Gaining fame in the 1950s, he transitioned from dramatic roles to iconic comedic performances in films like *Airplane!* and *The Naked Gun* series, becoming a beloved figure in slapstick comedy. He passed away on November 28, 2010.