November 26, 1945, marked the birth of a talented individual, born to parents who owned a movie theater in Arkansas. This native son's passion for acting can be traced back to his early years spent in the "crying room" of his family's theater, where he would listen to the likes of Tyrone Power and other legendary actors.
At the tender age of 11, he made his professional debut as a member of the cast of a children's television series, "Betty's Little Rascals," which was broadcast from Little Rock. His formal acting training commenced at the Arkansas Arts Center, a prestigious fine arts conservatory with its own repertory company.
Subsequent to his training at the Arkansas Arts Center, he honed his craft at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, and the American Conservatory Theatre, where he spent six years and also taught acting classes. His love for the theater has remained a constant throughout his career.
He has had the privilege of performing in nearly every Shakespearean play and an untold number of musicals and straight plays, showcasing his impressive singing abilities. In the year 2000, he received a Tony Award nomination for his outstanding performance in "Wrong Mountain" as best actor in a featured role.
When the popular television show "The Nanny" first aired in 1993, many viewers were convinced that the character of "Niles," the British butler, was played by a British actor. The Southern-born actor's convincing portrayal of the character was so impressive that many fans wrote to the show, suggesting that he teach Charles Shaughnessy, the true British native, how to improve his accent.
