Graduated from Pepperdine College. Played quarterback on football team and was small college All-American. Quarterbacked for the Long Beach Falcons (semi-pro football team) in the 1967 Western Football League.
He also substitue-taught in the Montebello Unified School District in California in the early '60s
He was a substitute Teacher for 11 years until his career began to take off in the early 1960s as a recurring co-star on the Empire TV series. He continued to work regularly in a variety of major roles in TV and film.