He played bit parts onstage before breaking into film in the early '40s, then spent several years in minor productions. He suddenly became internationally famous with his performance in the title role of The Jolson Story (1946). However, in the early '50s his career was destroyed during the McCarthy Era "witch trials;" he was called before the House Un-American Activities Committee and admitted past membership in the Communist Party. He got almost no additional film work, but appeared on occasion on stage and TV with his wife, actress Betty Garrett.