His parents divorced when he was about 7 years old. He moved with his mother to San Antonio, Texas where he was first aware of regional dialect. He had a childhood stutter problem.
After his marriage to June Grimstead, an English woman, he lived for several years in England and studied phonetics at University College in London, England.
Was known as the "Henry Higgins of Hollywood," a master of dialects who frequently coached other actors.
While a student at the University of Texas in the Spring of 1949, he
was inititated into Phi Eta Sigma, a national honorary scholastic
fraternity for men.
He is survived by his daughter, Heather Woodruff Perry; and granddaughter.