He was born to Rose and Joe Varga; his father was a professional wrestler in Europe known as Count Joseph Varga and taught his son wrestling at the age of five.

He attended Hollywood High School and graduated from the University of Southern California.

Varga won the world's light-heavyweight title in 1941 and later joined the Navy until he arrived home in 1947.

Varga's wrestling career began to fall apart in the 1970s as he was busy in television and movie work.

[1] He had three sons, Billy, Courtland and Royce, all of whom preceded him in death, and five grandchildren.