Reedy, balding, often bespectacled American character actor with
pencil-thin moustache, once described as the man with TV's 'most
deceptive face'. He looked like - and was - a certified public
accountant, graduate from Northeastern University. A struggling actor
in his youth, he worked in stock, tent shows and on radio. After army
service in World War II, he became a prolific performer in early
anthology series on television (eg.
Kraft Theatre (1947)
and
Robert Montgomery Presents (1950)),
though he continued to alternate these with appearances on the New York
stage. He was also glimpsed in movies, invariably in small supporting
roles, most notably as Deacon Davis in
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958),
and as George Lowery, boss to doomed
Janet Leigh in
Psycho (1960).
Vaughn reserved his best for the small screen, where he showed his versatility in genial or waspish roles, often as doctors, judges and bankers. He was capable of portraying benevolence as easily as taking on the mantle of greedy or corrupt attorneys, or second-string grifters (his repertoire even included vicious real-life gangster, George 'Pa' Barker, in an episode of The Untouchables (1959)). Among his numerous TV credits, his five journeys into The Twilight Zone (1959) stand out in particular.
Severe spinal deterioration brought about Vaughn's retirement from acting in 1976. His wife of many years, Ruth Moss, a fellow graduate of the Leland Powers School, was a noted Boston radio personality and Broadway actress.
Vaughn reserved his best for the small screen, where he showed his versatility in genial or waspish roles, often as doctors, judges and bankers. He was capable of portraying benevolence as easily as taking on the mantle of greedy or corrupt attorneys, or second-string grifters (his repertoire even included vicious real-life gangster, George 'Pa' Barker, in an episode of The Untouchables (1959)). Among his numerous TV credits, his five journeys into The Twilight Zone (1959) stand out in particular.
Severe spinal deterioration brought about Vaughn's retirement from acting in 1976. His wife of many years, Ruth Moss, a fellow graduate of the Leland Powers School, was a noted Boston radio personality and Broadway actress.
