Leary was born in
Rock Island County, Illinois. His acting career started in France during
World War I, providing
entertainment for
United States Troops. In 1919 he appeared in the Broadway play
Forbidden, playing the Second Lieutenant and Luke O'Keefe. Other Broadway appearances included productions of
Happy Landing,
Rendezvous and
Dodsworth.
That Texas Jamboree,
Out California Way,
Love Laughs at Andy Hardy, ''
I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and Devil Bat's Daughter. Leary retired in 1981, after making his final TV appearance in Nero Wolfe''. Leary died in December 1987 at the
Good Samaritan Hospital in
Los Angeles, California, at the age of 98. He was buried in
Hollywood Forever Cemetery. == Selected filmography ==