He attended Cathedral High School in Los Angeles, California, USA, and after graduating from high school in 1946 he joined the U.S. Coast Guard. He retired from the Coast Guard in 1966.
His grandson Steve Froehlich Steve Froehlich is an actor and producer.
As a child actor he was known as Rudy Frohlich or Rudy Frolich.
His mother Elisabeth Frohlich Elisabeth Fröhlich was a part-time actress in the late 1930's.