Born in the vibrant city of Portland, Oregon, this esteemed individual embarked on an illustrious journey of education, attending the prestigious University of Washington and later the renowned University of Michigan. With a distinguished military background, Colman served in the Japanese Language Division of U.S. Military Intelligence during the tumultuous years of World War II. Following his honorable discharge, he ventured onto the esteemed New York stage, where he began to hone his craft as an actor.
In 1951, Colman made the bold decision to relocate to the entertainment capital of Hollywood, where he made his film debut in the 1952 production of 'The Big Sky'. Throughout his illustrious career, he continued to seamlessly transition between the silver screen and the small screen, while also maintaining a strong presence in the world of theater. One of his most iconic and enduring roles was that of Ebenezer Scrooge, a character he portrayed an astonishing 500 times on the stage of the Meadow Brook Theatre in Rochester, Michigan, a feat he accomplished starting from 1981.