He had originally wanted to play lacrosse for a university, but then
thought there was more longevity in the arts, so he decided to study
opera and entered George Mason University on an opera scholarship after
auditioning with pieces from "The Phantom of the Opera." He eventually
majored in theater, with a minor in communications, and ended up
playing lacrosse and racquetball there. He took a break from school to
join the cast of
Guiding Light (1952).