Actor. He is best remembered for his portrayal of the eccentric General Zlinkov in "On the Double" (1961). Born Abraham Shklarch, he was raised in a traditional working-class family. After immigrating to the United States in the late 1940s, he began his career on the stage appearing as a leading man in such productions as "The Prescott Proposals," "On Your Toes," "The Great Sebastian's," and "Compulsion". After meeting director Edward Ludwig during a dinner party at the prestigious Russian Tea Room, he was so impressed by his unique girth, distinctive voice, and remarkable sense of humor, that he arranged for him to begin a career in the film industry beginning with him being under his supervision per a supporting role in "Smuggler's Island" (1951). From there, he would go on to flourish as a notable character actor appearing in over 75 features; often typecast as white-collared workers, doctors, waiters, managers, curmudgeons, landlords, neighbors, deputies, butlers, salesmen, generals, and patriarchs. He appeared in such feature films as "Queen for a Day" (1951), "Carrie" (1952), "The I Don't Care Girl" (1953), "This Earth is Mine" (1959), "The Story of Ruth" (1960), "Five Weeks in a Ballroom" (1962), "Bye Bye Birdie" (1963), and "A House is Not a Home" (1964). During the advent of television, he became an even more familiar face appearing in such syndicated sitcoms as "Fireside Theatre," "Schlitz Playhouse," "Dangerous Assignment," "Goodyear Playhouse," "The Ford Television Theatre," "You Are There," "Suspense," "The Phil Silvers Show," "Behind Closed Doors," "The United States Steel Hour," "Checkmate," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "The Untouchables," "The Donna Reed Show," "Batman," "Burke's Law," "The Andy Griffith Show," "It Takes a Thief," "Casablanca," and "The Winds of War". During his career, he was a naturalized United States Citizen, was an honorary member of Actors Equity, was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, was supportive of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, had been one of the founding members of the Canyon Theatre Guild, presided as a chairman for his local charters of the American Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity, was an active parishioner of the Temple Israel of Hollywood, had been supportive of the California State Democratic Committee, and he was married to fellow stage actress Isabella Milch from 1938 until his death (their union produced no children). After retiring from acting in 1984, he spent the final years of his life devoted to several charitable and religious causes, until his death from the complications of undisclosed causes.