Born on March 26, 1919, in Kokomo, Indiana, he was an American character actor known for his distinctive voice and memorable roles in Westerns and dramas. After serving in the US Navy during World War II, he pursued acting and gained fame for his role as the sadistic prison captain in "Cool Hand Luke" (1967), delivering the iconic line, "What we've got here is failure to communicate." His career spanned over 30 years, appearing in classics like "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" and "The Wild Bunch." He passed away on August 1, 1980.