Ralph Bellamy was a veteran actor who had enjoyed stardom for a time and mostly performed in character roles. He had performed for six decades on stage, in films and on television. Tall, well built and distinguished looking with wavy hair, a square jaw, light blue eyes and a booming resonant voice he was a natural for playing authoritarian types. He was born Ralph Rexford Bellamy in Chicago, Illinois on June 17, 1904 the son of an advertising executive. As a youngster he disliked school and studying but he did become the President of his high school drama club. On a summer vacation as a teen he worked for a time as a bellboy at Balboa Bay in California where he met actress Louise Lovely.