Known primarily as a TV actor, he starred as a nightclub singer on the popular The Danny Thomas Show (1953).He also served TV behind the cameras partnering with Sheldon Leonard and Aaron Spelling to create such shows as Dick Van Dyke's show, The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961), The Andy Griffith Show (1960) and Mod Squad (1968).He was also dedicated to building the St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, which he founded in 1962.