Biographie

He married his wife, Betty, in Birmingham, Michigan, while on a week's leave after graduating from pre-flight school in Iowa City, Iowa. After a week's honeymoon, he was shipped out to serve his country as a marine combat pilot during World War II.

He and his Hôpital central (1963) co-star, Rachel Ames, were both in the sci-fi movie Le choc des mondes (1951).

He grew up in Detroit and attended the University of Michigan. He served with the Marine Corps in WWII, flying combat missions in the South Pacific. After moving to Hollywood and working at the famed Pasadena Playhouse, he appeared with Alan Ladd in Branded (1950).

During the filming of Le Fils de Geronimo (1952), he and his co-stars, Charlton Heston and Milburn Stone were adopted by the Sioux Indians. Hansen was renamed 'Shining Star,' which translates to 'may the brightest star that shines always be your guide'.

Early in his career, he spent three years as the spokesman for Plymouth cars. He was known as Mr. Plymouth. His commercials were seen on the first season of The Lawrence Welk Show (1951). The series was broadcast from Stage A where later the soap opera Hôpital central (1963) would be taped. Hansen had his longest running role on General Hospital as lawyer, Lee Baldwin.