After two years at Ohio State, he transferred to the University of Hawaii where he spent much time training as a swimmer for the Olympics.

[1] Edwards studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts; his classmates included Anne Bancroft, John Cassavetes, and Grace Kelly.

As a result of the show's success and his own popularity, Edwards released several music albums and appeared in the all-star war film The Victors in 1963.

When the Ben Casey television series ended, Edwards returned to acting in motion pictures with a major role in the 1968 war drama The Devil's Brigade, together with films such as Hammerhead (1968), The Desperados (1969), and The Mad Bomber (1973).

The most important one was never issued, and in 1959 Ray Peterson was credited with the first version of "The Wonder of You" which became an international hit for him and for Elvis Presley - however, the very first recording was made by Vince Edwards.

Edwards was a compulsive gambler for many years, acknowledging the fact to a longtime friend, director William Friedkin, who said that he had "sacrificed a good portion of his career to an addiction.

After his death, his wife said, "One of the messages that Vince wanted to share is that gambling is NOT glamorous, despite today's suave-sounding euphemisms, such as 'gaming'.