Supporting himself by waiting tables, Bradford studied acting, first with
Frank Corsaro, and finally, in 1962, was admitted to the
Actors Studio, where he studied for two years, Bradford's work caught the eye of another Actors Studio member, director
Arthur Penn, who cast Bradford in
The Chase (1966),. This work, in turn, attracted the attention of media impresario
Lew Grade, who brought Bradford to Great Britain in 1967 for
Man in a Suitcase. In addition to his numerous TV appearances Bradford featured in many films, such as
The Missouri Breaks (1976),
An Enemy of the People (1978), ''
Goin' South (1978), Badge of the Assassin (1985), The Trip to Bountiful (1985), The Untouchables (1987), and The Milagro Beanfield War (1988), but arguably his best known film role is the corrupt police captain in the 1997 film Hoodlum. Bradford appeared in the 1989 film Heart of Dixie'' and had notable turns in
Costa-Gavras'
Missing (1982),
The Mean Season (1985) and
The Crossing Guard (1995). In the 1960s he appeared in the
Sanctuary episode of the television series
Gunsmoke and guest-starred in an episode of
The High Chaparral. In the 1970s he played Lutie Bascomb in one episode of
The Waltons. He guest-starred (series 2 episode 21) in an episode of
Kojak, "The Goodluck Bomber", in 1975. He guest-starred in an episode of
Murder, She Wrote in the 1980s. He also appeared in a guest-starring role in
Hart to Hart Season 3 episode 23, To Coin a Hart. He also guest-starred in an episode in the first season of
Viper. In 1987, he starred in the miniseries
Amerika. In the mid-1980s he was a semi-regular cast member of the series
Cagney & Lacey. == Personal life ==