Trivia

Held a top secret security clearance for a while as he was narrating Operation Hardtack reports for the United States military for the development of nuclear weapons.

Won Broadway's 1956 Tony Award as Best Actor (Musical) for "Damn Yankees!", a role he recreated in the film version of the same name, Lo que Lola quiere (1958).

Replaced Peter Sellers in Bésame, tonto (1964) after Sellers had suffered a heart attack mere weeks into the production.

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Live Theatre at 7070 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on December 8, 1995.

Had appeared in two Best Picture Academy Award winners: Piso de soltero (1960) and El golpe (1973).

Won two Emmy Awards (1995, 1996) for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series as Henry Bone on the drama series Cerca de pasiones (1992).

His last screen appearance was in the October 15, 2000 season premiere of Touched by an Angel (1994) as a wealthy entrepreneur who disinherits his materialistic son to teach him that there are more valuable things in life than money.

Accepted the role of history teacher Mr. Hand in Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) after Fred Gwynne previously turned down the role. After the film gained a huge following he said he was very grateful to have participated in it because younger audiences of the time only recognized him as Mr. Hand. He was thankful to be recognized for playing another role, due to the fact that before he played Mr. Hand audiences only recognized him as Uncle Martin from My Favorite Martian and he wanted to be recognized for participating in other films and shows.

He has appeared in three films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Piso de soltero (1960), El golpe (1973) and Picardías estudiantiles (1982).

Along with Vincent Schiavelli, he is one of only two actors to appear in both Picardías estudiantiles (1982) and the subsequent television adaptation Fast Times (1986).

Had one daughter with Ruth Calvert: Katherine Ann Walston.

Left high school during the depression and got a job as a copy boy on a newspaper. His first acting job was saying one word in one scene in a community playhouse in Houston.

Even though he performed in science fiction TV shows - "My Favorite Martian", "Star Trek: The Next Generation", "Star Trek: Voyager" - he died on the first day of the 21st century: January 1, 2001.