Was of Scots-Irish and German descent on his mother's side.
He had two sons with his first wife, Margaret: Dean William (Harmon) Swope (1960) and Scott Michael Harmon (1963). He also had a stepdaughter, Marissa Drake.
Best remembered for two roles: One as the hippie riding the mini-motorcycle/pocket bike (with the naked girlfriend) in Vanishing Point; and as Kevin Bacon's open-minded farmer boss in Footloose.
Inducted into the Cowboy Hall of Fame in 1994 in honor of his many Western roles.
Although mostly known for tough guy roles, he played passive hairdressers in both The Party starring Peter Sellers and Shampoo with Warren Beatty.
