[2] His father, Edward Quinn, was a supervisor in the United States Shipping Board's copying department.

Other radio programs on which he appeared included Counterspy, The FBI in Peace and War, Gangbusters, and Mr. District Attorney.

[5] A prolific character actor, Quinn appeared in more than 150 roles over seven decades, beginning in silent films during the 1920s and ending with Star Trek V: The Final Frontier in 1989, in which he portrayed the father of Dr. McCoy.

On television, he appeared as Mr. Van Ranseleer, the wise, blind bar patron, in Archie Bunker's Place.

From the 1950s through the 1980s, Quinn made guest appearances on several other TV series, including Perry Mason, Honey West, My Three Sons, Batman, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, Ironside, Hawaii Five-O, Adam-12, The Waltons, Quincy, M.E., The Rockford Files, The Bob Newhart Show, Trapper John, M.D.