After graduating from Detroit Catholic Central in 1951, Sebring served in the Navy for four years,[1] and during this time he fought in the Korean War.

In Las Vegas, on October 10, 1960 (his 27th birthday), Sebring married model Bonnie Lee Marple,[3] nicknamed Cami[4][5] – a union which ended unofficially in August 1963.

He flew to Las Vegas every three weeks to cut the hair of Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr.[6] At Kirk Douglas's request, Sebring did the hairstyling for the movie Spartacus.

[9] His business, Sebring International, was flourishing by the late 1960s, with profitable salons in West Hollywood, New York City and London.

Sebring assisted with launching the film career of Bruce Lee, after meeting him at the International Karate Championships in Long Beach in 1964.

[10] Although not seeking an acting career himself, Sebring made a cameo appearance in a December 1966 episode of the TV show Batman, playing a character based on himself called Mr. Oceanbring.

Sebring also appeared in a 1967 episode of The Virginian titled "The Strange Quest of Claire Bingham", playing a frontier barber.

Jim Markham was Sebring’s protege and business partner in a budding franchise of men’s hair salons and has made this statement publicly.

[6] Sebring bought the former home of Paul Bern, husband of Jean Harlow, on Easton Drive in Benedict Canyon, then owned by Sally Forrest.

After they returned to the Polanski residence on Cielo Drive, Patricia Krenwinkel, Susan Atkins and Charles "Tex" Watson, members of the "Manson Family", entered the home.

Watson then shot Sebring, and kicked him several times in the face as he lay dying, breaking his nose and eye socket.

[20][21][22] Emile Hirsch portrays Sebring in the 2019 film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, directed by Quentin Tarantino, which contains a revisionist interpretation of the night of the Manson murders.

In the film's version of events, Sebring survives, as the murderers do not attack at the Tate / Polanski address, but next door at the fictional Rick Dalton home.