His parents, Mr. and Mrs. George B. Waldron, were themselves actors of some note, but they did not want their son to follow in their profession and tried to steer him to a career in finance.

[1] Nine years of stock and a tour of Australia and New Zealand performing in The Virginian and The Squaw Man followed.

[3] In 1905, he was praised for his performance in the leading role in the play The Eternal City at San Francisco's Alcazar Theatre.

[1] (His father and Belasco had been fellow actors in a Portland, Oregon company.

He is perhaps best known for his final film role, that of General Sternwood in the opening scenes of The Big Sleep (1946), starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall.