- Nephew of Milton Berle, whose real last name was Berlinger.
- Deft, dark-haired, chubby-prone support and character actor who served up a number of comedic characters. Playing nearly 300 live TV roles in the 1950s alone, he went on to play in many lightweight film and TV comedies in the 6'0s and '70s.
- Often playing much younger than he was, he won a Theatre World Award for his performance in "Blue Denim" and went on to play his role in the film version, Blue Denim (1959). He was quite touching and sincere as young Ernie, the best friend of Brandon De Wilde, who impregnates Carol Lynley.
- Made an honorary Mayor and honorary Sheriff of Chatsworth, CA.
- Buried beside his wife at Mount Sinai Cemetery in Simi Valley, CA.
- Trained at New York's Professional Children's School, he made his stage debut on Broadway in Ethel Merman's "Annie Get Your Gun" at age 9.
- Has four children from his marriage (since 1960) to Betty Lou Keim. The couple appeared together on Broadway in "A Roomful of Roses" in 1955 and in his debut film Teenage Rebel (1956).
- Tried to fight his comedy stereotype with more ruthless character roles in the '70s and '80s. One of his favorite parts was as J. Pierpont Finch in the London musical production of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" in 1963.
- Attended Columbia University in New York.
- He was the son of Frieda (Shapkin) and Elias Berlinger, who was a building contractor and glass store owner in Brooklyn. His grandparents were all Russian Jewish immigrants.
- Has four children: Lisa, David, Edward, and Elizabeth, eight grandchildren. and one great-grandson.
- Was a lifelong liberal Democrat.
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