His step-father, Jack Donohue, a choreographer and director at MGM, advised him to start out in the cutting room, telling him, "You will learn everything about directing by being a film editor first.".
He was a ski patrolman and a seaman with the Norwegian Merchant Marine before emigrating to the United States.
Car enthusiast, owning many foreign automobiles throughout the years. One car which he mentions often was his baby Mustang convertible, with a rare optional front bench seat.