| Published his first book, the how-to film guide Making Movies, in 1995. |
| Made his feature-film directing debut in 1957 with the courtroom drama 12 Angry Men. |
| During the early '50s, he directed both for the stage and the small screen, including series such as Playhouse 90, Kraft Television Theatre and Studio One. |
| Made his stage debut at age 5 at New York's Yiddish Art Theatre and went on to appear in numerous Broadway productions. |
| Served as a radar repairman in the U.S. Army Signal Corps from 1942-46. |