Born on August 1, 1939, in Omaha, Nebraska, he is an American actor renowned for his versatile performances in both film and television. He gained widespread recognition for his role as the titular deceased character in the cult classic "Weekend at Bernie's" (1989) and its sequel. With a career spanning over five decades, he has appeared in numerous TV shows, including "Three's Company" and "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." He studied at the University of Kansas and is a founding member of the New York acting group, The Actors Studio.