On June 21, 1946, aged 15, McGhee held an elevator operator job at the Baker Hotel in downtown Dallas, when an ammonia explosion occurred during work on a refrigeration unit.
[1][2] He served his country as an Army corporal in the 31st Unit division[clarification needed] in the Korean War, and performed for the troops at Camp Atterbury, Indiana.
He was among the soldiers exposed to atmospheric nuclear testing at Yucca Flats, Nevada to measure the bomb's consequences.
[2] After his honorable discharge from the military, McGhee returned to performing at the Dallas Theater Center's Janus Players.
He performed in more than 35 theater productions and stage plays, and in more than 15 films, including High Yellow (1965), Curse of the Swamp Creature (1966), Don't Look in the Basement (1973), Drive-In (1976), 1918 (1985) and Riverbend (1989).