| Studied acting at New York's HB Studio under Uta Hagen. |
| As a child, he became interested in acting through his mother, who started a community theater group that rehearsed in their home. |
| Won an Obie and a Drama Desk Award for his performance in 1970's The Last Sweet Days of Isaac. |
| Started writing plays at age 50. |
| An in-demand character actor who is best known to mainstream audiences for his turn as a reluctant villain in 1979's The Muppet Movie. |
| Made his Broadway debut with the original company of Fiddler on the Roof in 1964. |