As a member of the NYC Theatre Guild on the Air, Manning appeared in a number radio dramas broadcast from the city.

He lent his voice and talents to such classic radio serials as One Man's Family, The Goldbergs, The Green Hornet and The Shadow.

Notably, Manning starred as Rodrigo in Othello opposite Paul Robeson, José Ferrer and Uta Hagen, from 1943 until 1945.

His other Broadway credits included Man and Superman in 1947, Billy Budd in 1951, The Tender Trap in 1954, Say Darling in 1958 and Alice In Wonderland.

[1][2] Moving to television in 1953, Manning performed a one-man show of Hamlet on the DuMont series Monodrama Theater.

Before the airing of the first episode Jack Gould, a television critic for the New York Times, wrote in his column, "Alas, poor Hamlet.

Manning would direct all of the company's traveling stage productions, which starred Helen Hayes, including a tour of The Circle, which was written by W. Somerset Maugham.

[2] He was also cast in guest parts on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Columbo, Kojak, Here's Lucy, The Waltons and Studio One.