Anecdotes

When John Ford rather coyly asked young John Wayne who he thought might be good as "The Ringo Kid" in La Chevauchée fantastique (1939), Wayne suggested Nolan.

Did not reveal he was terminally ill from lung cancer while doing his last acting role on Arabesque (1984) early in that show's second season. He appears to have filmed the show shortly before his 83rd birthday. It aired after his death six weeks later. The strain of fighting the illness had devastated his memory and much of his physical strength. Series star Angela Lansbury worked hard to get him through his scenes.

Frequently portraying doctors in his later years, the actor bore a more than passing resemblance to famed Alabama physician Lloyd Noland - the spelling of their names differed by only a single letter.

Was in three Oscar Best Picture nominees: Les Plaisirs de l'enfer (1957), Airport (1970) and Hannah et ses soeurs (1986).

He was a proponent of (and activist for) providing education opportunities for autistic children. His son was autistic.

He received great recognition for playing Lt Queeg in 'The Caine Mutiny Court Martial' for 832 performances on Broadway and in London earning him the Donaldson and New York Drama Critics Awards as Best Actor of 1954. He then performed it on television, winning an Emmy.

His first professional appearances were at the Pasadena Playhouse, later joining the road company of 'The Front Page' then after playing Biff Grimes in 'One Sunday Afternoon' he left Broadway for Hollywood appearing in such films as Guadalcanal (1943).

Profiled in "Hollywood Players: The Thirties" by James Robert Parish and Wiliam T. Leonard.

He was a long-time pipe and cigar smoker, and died from lung cancer.

He was a lifelong Republican.

He had two children: a daughter Melinda and a son Jay. Jay was autistic, and died at age 26 from choking.