Born in Chicago to immigrant parents from Germany and Russian Poland,[2] Schwegler attended high school in Raymond, Washington, where he played football and basketball.

[3][4] Schwegler attended the University of Washington where he played as a tackle for the Huskies football program for the 1929–1931 seasons and was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity.

[9] In February 1937, Schwegler made sports headlines by suggesting that college football players should stage a sitdown strike until getting paid to play.

His film appearances include: Schwegler accompanied Hollywood director Tay Garnett on a work voyage that began in November 1935 from Los Angeles, crossing the Pacific through Asia and on to Europe.

[24] In June 1942, Schwegler joined the United States Navy as a chief specialist to assist with military recruitment in the Los Angeles area;[25] he served until October 1945.