As an actor, he had a long list of credits on TV and stage.
And as a scientist, he worked as a lab assistant to Dr. Jonas Salk on the polio vaccine - an accomplishment that landed him a spot as the central character on a 1960 episode of "To Tell the Truth."
But to people like me who grew up watching game shows in the 1970s, he will always be remembered as the suave, smiling host of "Musical Chairs" (CBS, June 1975 - October 1975). A mediocre format, alas, but he was an excellent host.
After the show quickly flopped, he never got a second chance to be an emcee. But his place in history as the first African-American game show host is secure.