after graduating from abraham lincoln high school in 1954, he attended new york university, declining an athletic scholarship. standing 6'1" (1.86 m), he was offered the opportunity to play varsity basketball during his college years at nyu, which he declined to concentrate on theater. his high school teacher had encouraged him to audition for a broadway part, which resulted in his selection for a starring role on broadway in 1953 from among 200 other actors well before he entered nyu.